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Asd Vs Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Essay

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Describe the two main differences between Acute Stress Disorder and PTSD.
The two main differences between Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are diagnostic criteria and symptoms and duration and onset of symptoms.

Regarding diagnostic criteria and symptoms, the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) states that PTSD requires meeting a certain number of symptoms within established clusters, whereas ASD is diagnosed based on the expression of symptoms in total. Furthermore, PTSD includes non-fear based symptoms such as risky behavior, negative thoughts, and decreased interest in activities, which are not included in the criteria for ASD (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2007).

In terms of duration …show more content…

The DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) highlights that there are several reasons why Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may be mistaken for each other.

One reason is the overlap of symptoms, including re-experiencing the traumatic event, avoidance of reminders, negative changes in mood and cognition, and increased arousal. These similar symptoms can make it challenging to differentiate between the two …show more content…

The statement highlights the difficulties in diagnosing PTSD immediately after a traumatic event. This is due to several reasons, such as the fluctuating and diverse symptoms of PTSD, which may not present until later and may also be masked by other conditions related to the trauma. The unpredictable nature of PTSD symptoms can also make it challenging for healthcare professionals to diagnose the condition accurately in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event.

One reason that makes early PTSD diagnosis difficult is the fluctuating course of the disorder, as mentioned by Bryant (2013) in Research Quarterly - Veterans Affairs: "The course of posttraumatic stress is fluctuating, impeding attempts to accurately identify most people at risk for PTSD". Additionally, the variability of PTSD symptoms can make it challenging for healthcare professionals to diagnose the condition immediately after a traumatic event, as some individuals may not experience symptoms for weeks or months after the traumatic event, according to NIMH (2021): "Some people with PTSD don’t show any symptoms for weeks or

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