Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Essay

Often people be traumatized by traumatic events that take place their lives. We seldom expect these events to pass away so we often do non know how to react when it does happen, this rat lead to Posttraumatic accent Disorder (posttraumatic stress disorder). In this assignment is the definition of posttraumatic stress disorder, the lawsuit why S forbiddenh Africa has such a high prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder and also the regularitys of prevention of PTSD will be discussed. DEFINITION OF POSTTRAUMATIC mental strain DISORDERPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be defined as a result people build to traumatic events in conduct and can arise as an immediate, delayed and/or protracted response (Seedat, 2011). These events can be natural disasters, such as a tsunami or earthquake, or it can be human-make like a hijacking or an assault, and even things like apartheid and xenophobia (Austin, et. al. , 2011111) (Seedat, 2011). PTSD can lead to a psyche feeling hel pless and having an intense fear (Austin, et. al. , 2011111). To diagnose a mortal with PTSD, three main criteria of symptoms must be visible in the mortal namely the person must be re-experiencing the traumatic event, the person must have an shunning associated stimilu, and the person must have a hypervigilance and chronic arousal (like having anger issues or not being sufficient to sleep) (Austin, et. al. , 2011111) (Seedat, 2011). These three symptoms can be in a minimum state, to a greater extentover all three need to be visible before a person can be diagnosed with PTSD (Austin, et. al. , 2011111). All symptoms must be shown for a month or more and cause signifcant distress or impairment in social or occupational areas of functioning and if these symptoms train on for more than three months it can be seen as chronic PTSD (Seedat, 2011). Different psychological factors can play a habit in the development and maintanence of PTSD. These factors were identified by Edward s (2005c) as emotionally sad and problematic processes of guilt, shame, grief, anxiety, dysfunctional and/or distorted cognitions, and various cognitive, affective, and behavioural avoidance mechanisms (Austin, et. al. , 2011111).WHY SOUTH AFRICA HAS SUCH A HIGH PREVALENCE OF PTSDPTSD is fairly common as approximately eight out of 100 people will develop PTSD (Seedat, 2011). Women are double as likely as men to develop PTSD(Seedat, 2011). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is very common in southwesterly Africa because of various reasons (Seedat, 2011). In 1997, the World Health Organization issued a study on the globular Burden of Disease. They found that mental disorders are second in consignment to infectious diseases (Burke, Unknown). There have not been much studies of trauma disorders in SA, only the existing research suggests that second Africans, especially black South Africans, are still struggling with SAs past, this being the apartheid which started in 1948 and lasted un til 1994 (Burke, Unknown). In 1997, Market Research Africa and the Community Agency for Social Equality issued a study of face-to-face interviews with 3,870 adults who grew up during this time and the results were that 17% of people who had been clear to trauma described their mental health as poor. There were 2 % of people who were exposed to violent events and 78 % of this 23% had one or more symptoms of PTSD (Burke, Unknown). Most people who lived through apartheid do not subscribe any symptoms of PTSD, but there are those people who are still so un wearye by the atrocities of the apartheid era that they still suffer the symptoms of PTSD. The symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder have many contrasting consequences for different people. PTSD can sometimes lead to drug and alcohol abuse. According to a report from the Health Department released recently, South Africa has the highest rates of alcoholism in the world (Burke, Unknown). METHODS OF PREVENTION OF PTSDSome evidence suggests that intervening with medications or psychotherapy within a short time after the traumatic event may prevent PTSD to develop (Seedat, 2011). One accomplishable method for the prevention of PTSD is the Child and Family Traumatic Stress treatment (CFTSI). The purpose of this method is to prevent the development of PTSD within a 30 day range after experiencing a potentially traumatic event. In a study, a number of 7 to 17 form old children were randomly assigned to the intervention or to a four-session collateral Comparison condition. The results were that the children part of the CFTSI had less and less symptoms of PTSD which suggests that a caregiver-youth and beforehand(predicate) intervention for children exposed to a potentially traumatic event is a promising method to prevent chronic PTSD (Berkowitz, Stover, and Marans, 2010). Another contingent method for the prevention of PTSD is memory structuring intervention (MSI). Studies havebeen made on how trauma is proce ssed which lead to the creating of MSI. In a randomised-controlled study, concern accident victims who were at risk for PTSD were assigned to two MSI or two supportive-listening control sessions and the MSI patients reported a significantly less commonplace arousal and PTSD symptoms than the controls (Gersons, Carlier, Lamberts & Kolk, 2001). CONCLUSIONPTSD can come forrad when people are exposed to a traumatic event, and it can perish a chronic disorder if it lasts for longer than 3months. In South Africa we have a high prevalence for PTSD. We think that there are more people who were part of the apartheid era, that have PTSD than what studies have shown. Not both person understands the severity of PTSD or knows the symptoms of PTSD so they dont realize that they have it. PTSD is not only treatable but possibly preventable too. There is no definite prevention method as different people handle different situations in different ways. Thus it would be good if people were more awa re of the symptoms more could be done to prevent PTSD.BiblographyAustin, TL., et al., (2011). Schizophrenia. In TL. Austin, et. Al. Abnormal Psychology A South African Perspective (pp. 160-193). Cape Town Oxford University Press South Africa.Burke, L. (Unknown). The consequences of truth Post-traumatic stress in new South Africa (continued). Retrieved April 20, 2012, from South Africa in Transition http//journalism.berkeley.edu/projects/southafrica/news/traumapart2.htmlGersons, Carlier, Lamberts & Kolk. (2001). Translating Research Findings to PTSD Preventionl Results of a Randomized-Controlled Pilot Study. Retrieved April 21, 2012, from Spingerlink http//www.springerlink.com/ electrical capacity/w18292635382q182/Seedat, S. (2011, 03 01). Depression Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.Retrieved April 20, 2012, from Health 24 http//www.health24.com/ checkup/Condition_centres/777-792-807-1650,11960.asp