Critical Care And PTSD
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Introduction & Theoretical Background
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) describes a collection of symptoms commonly experienced by people following traumatic, life-threatening, or frightening events. It is characterized by recurrent, involuntary and intrusive memories, dreams or flashbacks relating to the trauma which cause distress. Avoidance (or attempted avoidance) of these intrusions and any associated external triggers is common, and the individual’s understanding of the event can be highly distorted, leading them to develop persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs about themselves, others, or the world. Other emotional symptoms include a diminished interest in activities, detachment, or an inability to feel positive emotions.
Not everybody who experiences a trauma goes on to develop PTSD. While it is common to experience some symptoms of PTSD after a trauma, for many people, these begin to diminish in the first month. Depending on the type of trauma, 20-30% of people experience symptoms of PTSD that persist, and a large-scale review gave
Therapist Guidance
This is a Psychology Tools information handout. Suggested uses include:
- Client handout – use as a psychoeducation resource.
- Discussion point – use to provoke a discussion and explore client beliefs.
- Therapist learning tool – improve your familiarity with a psychological construct.
- Supervision tool – to develop formulations and knowledge.
- Teaching resource – use as a learning tool during training.
References And Further Reading
- Griffiths, R. D., & Jones, C. (1999). Recovery from intensive care. Bmj, 319(7207), 427-429.
- Murray, H., Grey, N., Wild, J., Warnock-Parkes, E., Kerr, A., Clark, D. M., Ehlers, (2020). Cognitive therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder following critical illness and intensive care unit admission. Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, (April 2020).
- Kilpatrick, D. G., Resnick, H. S., Milanak, M. E., Miller, M. W., Keyes, K. M., & Friedman, M. J. (2013). National estimates of exposure to traumatic events and PTSD prevalence using DSM‐IV and DSM‐5 criteria. Journal of traumatic stress, 26(5), 537-547.