How is a person diagnosed with PTSD? It seems to me that it is confused with a lot of other emotional or mental disorders. From my experience with stomach issues the diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome is one that is overdiagnosed to give a name to symptoms that the doctors should really just say..."we have no idea what is wrong with you" and in the same way I wonder if PTSD is the diagnosis (sadly) when doctors really don't know what to say or do to help a person. That said - is there a way to truly diagnosis a person and once done how is it most commonly treated?
Recently in the DSM 5th edition, the disorder was moved from being an anxiety related disorder to a new category listed under Trauma. They have found a connection between PTSD and an external event. There are now five criteria that have to be met to be dianosed with PTSD. The survivor has to have been exposed to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. The exposure can be direct or witnessed.Second, is reexperiencing (flashbacks, nightmares, etc), Third are avoidant symptoms.Where the sufferer avoids thought, feelings, situations or even people that remind them of the experience. Fourth are the negative effects to mood and cognition (detachment, negative thoughts, and memory problems. Lastly are the increased arousal symptoms. One s more wary and alert of possible threats and can result in less sleep, irritability, and hyper-vigilance. These symptoms must all be present for at least a month. Treatments include professional counseling and medication through a bevy of agencies (VA, licensed therapy)
There can be some confusion in diagnosing PTSD, and other mental illnesses, with PTSD there can be irritability and rapid mood swings. Some that come to mind are Borderline Personality disorder, Bipolar I & Bipolar II disorder. Could you explain why someone would be diagnosed with one and not the other.
How is a person diagnosed with PTSD? It seems to me that it is confused with a lot of other emotional or mental disorders. From my experience with stomach issues the diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome is one that is overdiagnosed to give a name to symptoms that the doctors should really just say..."we have no idea what is wrong with you" and in the same way I wonder if PTSD is the diagnosis (sadly) when doctors really don't know what to say or do to help a person. That said - is there a way to truly diagnosis a person and once done how is it most commonly treated?
ReplyDeleteRecently in the DSM 5th edition, the disorder was moved from being an anxiety related disorder to a new category listed under Trauma. They have found a connection between PTSD and an external event. There are now five criteria that have to be met to be dianosed with PTSD. The survivor has to have been exposed to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. The exposure can be direct or witnessed.Second, is reexperiencing (flashbacks, nightmares, etc), Third are avoidant symptoms.Where the sufferer avoids thought, feelings, situations or even people that remind them of the experience. Fourth are the negative effects to mood and cognition (detachment, negative thoughts, and memory problems. Lastly are the increased arousal symptoms. One s more wary and alert of possible threats and can result in less sleep, irritability, and hyper-vigilance. These symptoms must all be present for at least a month. Treatments include professional counseling and medication through a bevy of agencies (VA, licensed therapy)
DeletePTSD: Words for Stress
ReplyDeleteThere can be some confusion in diagnosing PTSD, and other mental illnesses, with PTSD there can be irritability and rapid mood swings. Some that come to mind are Borderline Personality disorder, Bipolar I & Bipolar II disorder. Could you explain why someone would be diagnosed with one and not the other.