Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Case Study

History
The history of PTSD dates back to the beginning of the human existence, however the specifics of the disorder were never fully understood until now. PTSD is classified as a mental disorder characterized by reoccurring thoughts, anxiety, depression, and irritability. These characteristics are the result of experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Although we have a set definition of what PTSD is now, it was often hard to diagnose in the past. Showing the symptoms of the disorder was viewed as a personal weakness and it wasn’t until 1980 that it was taken seriously. According to Friedman (2016), that year “the American Psychiatric Association (APA) added PTSD to the third edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental

That is nearly equivalent to the the entire population of Texas. PTSD does not discriminate due to age, gender, or socioeconomic status; it can affect any person that has experienced a traumatic event. Despite this fact, studies have shown that women are more susceptible to developing the disorder. In fact, women are twice as likely to develop PTSD than men (2007) due to a higher chance of experiencing sexual assault (“What is PTSD”). Not only can men and women show the symptoms of PTSD, but children also can be affected by it as well. All of the different people who exemplify the symptoms of PTSD have one thing in common, and that is the cause of it. The disorder’s roots can always be traced back to some sort of traumatic event such as war, rape, physical or sexual abuse, childhood neglect, and more. This broad spectrum of causes creates a diverse and widespread affected

To be diagnosed, a person must actually go in to be tested. Without this first initiative, those dealing with PTSD will be left untreated, which is the unfortunate case of many. The diagnosis is typically made by a mental health provider (citation 2). It begins with a psychological evaluation that includes a discussion about the person’s symptoms and what they are going through (citation 1). From there, the health provider would complete a PTSD assessment to fully determine whether they have it or not. This assessment can vary in length depending on the individual. It can consist of a series of questions, surveys, and discussions regarding the person’s past traumatic experience as well as how they are coping with it now (citation 2). The information gained from this assessment can be used to determine if that person matches the PTSD criteria within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (citation 1). If the traits of PTSD are exhibited by that person, further action can taken in order to facilitate a recovery and improve the mental health of the