Comparing Treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Domestic Violence and Women Victims of Rape

Per the research (Sharp & Barber, 2011; Institute of Medicine, 2007), effective treatments are available. However, there are such a variety of approaches to treatment that is necessary to determine which ones are effective based upon empirical evidence. Garcia (2011) reported that there are now approximately 1.8 million veterans that have served for the United States over centuries. Frequent rates of veterans returning from the Iraq War with PTSD are high. One study found as many as 21.8% of veterans who have accessed Veterans Health Administration healthcare services between 2002 and 2008 were diagnosed with PTSD (Seal, 2009). Another study that as many as 68.2% of Iraq veterans who accessed one Department of Veterans Affairs(VA) Poly-trauma Network Site were given a PTSD diagnosis

Women who are chronically battered has been categorized as a subclass of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is composed of the following symptoms: re-living the battering as if it were reoccurring even when it is not, efforts to circumvent the psychological effect of battering by avoiding activities, people, and emotions, hyperarousal or hypervigilance, disrupted interpersonal relationships, body image distortion or other somatic concerns, and sexuality

During the first session clinicians educate participants on chronic pain and PTSD. In this first session participants are asked to generate three reasonable goals they desire to achieve through therapy. Weekly goal completion is examined before each session occurs. The second session is where clinicians guide participants in making sense of the chronic pain and PTSD they have endured. The third session allows participants to discuss their thoughts and feelings towards their understanding of chronic pain and PTSD. The fourth session clinicians employ cognitive reconstructing by identifying negative thoughts and giving participants the opportunity to change these thoughts into positive ones. The fifth session involves participants learning diaphragmatic breathing and progressive muscle relaxation. The sixth session, clinicians discuss avoidance and implement interoceptive exposure. The seventh session involves participants finding pleasant activities to enjoy. The eighth session is dedicated to education on sleep hygiene. The ninth session works with veterans safety and trust issues. The tenth session is where veterans learn about their own power, control, and anger. The eleventh session works on veteran’s esteem and intimacy. The final session is reserved for relapse prevention and planning for the future. Clinicians administered a pre and post treatment assessments as follows: The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), PTSD Checklist

Millions of people suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and struggle to find an effective treatment option. Many people have the misconception that only our veterans have this condition but in actuality over 8% of the Unites States population have this mental illness. Researchers have been trying to study and determine what the best treatment options are. Patients can get confused and frustrated in trying to find a treatment that will fit their needs and gives them the best opportunity and chance of recovery. Research has indicated that drug therapy has limited results when used without therapy and may only treat symptoms (Wright 2013). Although many

The vast majority of those receiving CBT treatment are unable to alleviate their mental state, and as high as 58% of those after receiving treatment still demonstrate the characteristics, or symptoms, associated with the diagnosis of PTSD (Cloitre, 2009). In addition, studies have shown that “only 32-66% reach a good level” of being able to gain a stronger mindset and emotional state in the hope to be better able to function within society (Foa, 2009; Schnyder, 2005). Although there have been more emphasis placed on PTSD in regards to research on psychotherapeutic treatments, the impact of this type of treatment remains stagnant while those whom to continue to suffer from the disorder remains constantly rising. The severities of the symptoms onto people’s lives reflect that of a chronic disorder, continuously impeding their life both psychological and health-wise (McFarlane,

The guiding question that needs to be assessed is “What is the efficacy of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in tends diagnosed with PTSD?”, “Is this intervention safe and effective for the teen population?”, Are there any potential prevention techniques for PTSD?”.

A study conducted by Ullman, S., Townsend, S., Filipas, H., & Starzynski, L. (2007) evaluated the origin of posttraumatic stress disorder. The purpose of the study is to analyze how sexual assaults can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. The study was composed of 1,084 women, who responded to mail surveys about unwanted sexual experiences. The first time the researchers sent out the surveys only 90 percent of women responded. The sample in this study decreased to 636 women after many surveys were thrown out due to missing data and not everyone responded. The researchers focused on women ages of 18 to 71 that had unwanted sexual experiences. Out of the 636 women, only 5% of them were never sexually assaulted (Ullman, 2007). These researchers

Due to Matt’s diagnosis of PTSD and depression symptoms, it was imperative to utilize an approach that if possible, could decrease all symptomology. Empirically, research shows that with the successful treatment of PTSD, comorbid symptoms of depression and anxiety are also greatly reduced (Blachard et al., 2003; National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (UK, 2005). Thus so it seemed utilizing an empirically supported treatment for PTSD will assist in decreasing Matt’s depression PTSD symptomatology.

For example, the male batter can threat to inflict harm to the female victim and her family, causing her to be fearful and depressed. Another study used a structured interview to examine the levels of psychopathology on battered victims and found a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression (Gleason, 1993). Battered victims do not recognize the impact that domestic violence has on their psychological state. These victims attempt to deny the danger and avoid any connection to the abuse (Walker, 1991). For example, these

Battered women are exposed to many forms of intimate partner abuse. This paper will explore the contributors of anxiety, depression, memory loss; the re-experiencing of the trauma and the disruption of interpersonal relationships; and some of the difficulties that battered women face when trying to leave their abusers.

This paper is going to examine, what is the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy on teens diagnosed with PTSD as represented in the professional literature? This paper will also evaluate the effects of a support system, benefits of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and methodology of efficacy on teens diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Battered Woman Syndrome has been recognized as a subcategory of post-traumatic stress disorder (Walker, 2009). All women who have been battered do not meet all of the criteria in the DSM-V for post-traumatic stress disorder but many of them do (Walker, 2009). It is also important to note that women who suffer from Battered Woman Syndrome may suffer from other mental health conditions. Treatment should be tailored to fit the unique needs of the battered woman. However, according to Walker (2009) treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and Battered Woman Syndrome may include a combination of feminist and trauma therapy. Feminist therapy helps the victim understand the situational factors that are out of her control which may motivate her to accept and change the factors that she can control (Walker, 2009).

A study conducted in December 1st, 2015 constructed by Pallavi Nishith, Kim T. Mueser and Gary A. Morse, analyzed individuals who suffer from PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) and have serious mental illness, but the problem is that the people who suffer from this disorder are not treated or diagnosed with PTSD. Nishith, P., Mueser, T. K., Morse, A. G., (2015) coordinated a trial called the Brief program, "This program involves 12–16 weekly 1-hr sessions, with the primary treatment components including teaching breathing retraining and education about PTSD (3 sessions) and cognitive restructuring (9 –13 sessions)" (Pallivi et al., 2015, pg. 314). The purpose of the study was to have other options aside from the Cognitive behavior therapy

Program evaluation as “the systematic collection of information about the activities, characteristics, and outcomes of programs to make judgments about the program, improve program effectiveness, and/or inform decisions about future program development” (Patton, 1997). This project will focus on the best treatment plan for soldiers with PTSD. The goal is to find effective treatment so that soldiers can successfully reintegrate back into society. Researcher intends to evaluate current programs that treat PTSD. Identifying the programs goals, objectives, collecting information about the program will assist in the program evaluation. Also, program evaluation can include different types of evaluation that identify needs assessments, accreditation, cost/benefit analysis, effectiveness, goal-based, and outcomes of the programs. This information will help identify best program available and also serve to help improve current programs of PTSD treatment.

In this paper the therapies related to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) will be studied in order to determine the applicability thereof for the treatment (and prevention) of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD will be summarised as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders edition 4 with revisions (DSM-IV-TR). The therapy models, their theory and techniques will be discussed. The therapies this paper has in scope are, CBT, Exposure therapy and it’s different related techniques, Stress Inoculation Training (SIT), and Eye Movement Desensitisation