Oxytocin Research Paper

Studying the brain has been an affective result in finding out the various neurochemicals that are involved with PTSD. Brain imaging systems nowadays focus on two brain structures, the amygdala and the hippocampus. The amygdala is involved with how we learn about our fear and hippocampus plays a role with our memory formation. Some research focuses on a hormonal system known as hypothalamic-pituitary

When humans undergo traumatic events that threaten their safety and wellbeing, they may become vulnerable to nightmares, fear, excessive anxiety, depression, and trembling. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychological illness that results from the occurrence of a “terribly frightening, life-threatening, or otherwise unsafe experience” (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), 2012). This condition often leads to unbearable stress and anxiety. PTSD is significantly prevalent as indicated by data from the National Co-morbidity Survey which shows that at a particular time in their lives, 7.8% of 5, 877 adults in America suffered from PTSD (Andrew & Bisson, 2009). In the general population, the lifetime prevalence is estimated at 8%,

At least 50% of all adults and children are exposed to a psychologically traumatic event (such as a life-threatening assault or accident, humanmade or natural disaster, or war). As many as 67% of trauma survivors experience lasting psychosocial impairment, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); panic, phobic, or generalized anxiety disorders; depression; or substance abuse.(Van der Kolk, et al, 1994) Symptoms of PTSD include persistent involuntary re-experiencing of traumatic distress, emotional numbing and detachment from other people, and hyperarousal (irritability, insomnia, fearfulness, nervous agitation). PTSD is linked to structural neurochemical changes in the central nervous system which may have a direct

PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is an increasing problem in our country. PTSD has its roots in the military, but the entire populace is subject to its effects. I served my country for the past 21 years and have seen the before and after of the effects of combat, so any discussions about PTSD, diagnosis, treatments, and cures is likely to catch my eye. In this paper, we will discuss the basics on PTSD, current rates in society, and list the possible cures and or treatments that are currently in use. The prevalence in society should show that all people should be familiar with the signs and systems, as well as knowing some of the basic treatments to assist afflicted individuals. The goal of this paper is to provide just that for the reader.

Stress is known to negatively impact health. Psychological responses, such as mood, emotion and coping, influence the way we perceive stress and the impact it has on the physiological response (Chida & Hamer, 2008). Past studies have used the hormone cortisol to test the stress response(Dickerson &

One of the effects of this hormone is that it makes a person more inclined to go to a close family member or friend, as they want to be surrounded by people who care about their well-being. Additionally, it helps heal stress-induced damages to the heart. Essentially, stress makes a person social, as they crave physical contact and increase their empathy. The final study discovered that people who experience a major stressful event have an increased mortality rate; however, if they spend time helping other people, they experience no increase whatsoever. In conclusion, stress affects a person’s body in whatever manner they think it will: A person will remain healthy if they view it positively, but a person who views it negatively will be

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can and usually is an extremely disruptive mental health disorder that, frequently diminishes a person’s overall quality of life, and usually follows a chronic, often lifelong, course.” (Kassam-Adams, & Winston, 2004, p. 407). Given the ubiquitous nature of threatening or catastrophic trauma, PTSD is becoming more and more common among our youth. “It may affect 10% of women and 5% of men at some stage in their lives.” (Kar, 2011, p.167). According to Kar, (2011), This is a large number of the population and depending upon the degree and nature in which the traumatic event has occurred, the rates of PTSD victims that have been reported could then approach 100%. (p.167). PTSD is described as having a multitude

Although post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is sometimes considered to be a relatively new diagnosis, as it first appeared in 1980, the concept of the disorder has a long history. That has often been linked to the history of war, but the disorder has also been frequently described in natural disasters, mass catastrophes, and serious accidental injuries. The diagnosis first appeared in terminology when Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-I was published in 1952 under the name “Gross stress reaction”. It was misplaced, however, in the next edition in 1968, after a long period of next peace. When DSM-III was developed in the mid-1980s the recent

Many individuals tend to experience a traumatic event that will change their entire lives short-term or long-term wise. Exposure to traumatic events are more common in military veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. By becoming exposed to the harsh conditions of a war-zone, such as violence or bloodshed, military veterans evoke a psychological response known as the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The common symptoms of PTSD tend to be aggressiveness, disturbances in sleep, and or paranoia. PTSD has the ability to severely damage the emotional and mental well-being of an individual. Not only that, but it also affects the way how one behaves around others. At times, PTSD and its severity goes unnoticed. This is a major reason as to why this topic will be explored in this paper. It is to bring awareness and urge the importance to go through treatments to cure

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be defined as “ a complex disorder in which a person’s memory, emotional responses, intellectual process, and nervous system have been disrupted by one or more traumatic experiences”(Swan & Persis, 2016). It is trauma and stressor related, a disorder that depends on a factor outside a person. Types of events that can lead to the development of PTSD include physical assault, rape and sexual assault, military combat, torture, mass violence, natural disasters, transportation or workplace disasters, explosions and fires, life-threatening epidemics and radiation. Repeated traumas or being exposed to long duration of traumas may also cause symptoms of PTSD. There are biochemical, physiologic, sociocultural, together with occupational factors and personal variables involved in the development of PTSD (Swan & Persis, 2016). Health risks associated with PTSD include cardiovascular, digestive musculoskeletal and respiratory disorders. Also cancer, infectious diseases, suicide, homicide and drug overdose (Heavey, 2014).

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a widespread disorder that affects certain individuals psychologically, behaviorally, and emotionally following the experience of a traumatic event (Lee et al., 2005, p. 135). However, because of inconsistencies regarding the percentage of individuals who experience PTSD and the percentage of individuals who subsequently develop PTSD, researchers hypothesize that both biological and environmental factors contribute to the development of PTSD (Wolf et al. 2010, p. 328). In order gain a better understanding of this disorder and to discover contributing and predicative factors which contribute to the development of PTSD, this paper analyses the historical context and prevalence of PTSD, the

There are hundreds of different kinds of psychiatric disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. (DSM-IV). One of them is called Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Based on the research, post-traumatic disorder usually occurs following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape (Harvard Women’s Health Watch, 2005). The purpose of this paper is to discuss the risk factors, pathophysiology, clinical manifestation, diagnostic criteria and tests, treatment, prognosis and future research and approaches to treat this psychiatric illness of post-traumatic stress

1.) Summary: Kelly McGonigal who is a health psychologist gives a thought-provoking lecture called “How to Make Stress Your Friend” at an official TED conference in June 2013. During the first part of the presentation, Ms. McGonigal confesses to the crowd that she been teaching about stress completely wrong, “Basically, I’ve turned stress into the enemy. But I have changed my mind about stress…” Ms. McGonigal emphasizes the point that people who view stress as not harmful (not their enemy), were less likely to die to people who view stress as their enemy; therefore, when people change their mind about stress, they can change their body response to stress to make them healthier. As the presentation gets further along, Kelly McGonigal states how oxytocin plays a huge role in controlling stress. This neuro-hormone, which is released during stress, motivates you to seek support, which is the reason why stress makes you social. At the same time, oxytocin acts

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects 7.7 million American adults and can also occur during childhood. PTSD is an anxiety disorder that stems from a recent emotional threat such as a natural, disaster, war, and car accidents. PTSD usually occurs from an injury or coming close death. A person who has experienced a past traumatic event has a heightened chance of being diagnosed with PTSD after a current trauma. PTSD can also be determined by looking at one’s genes, different emotions, and current or past family setting. Normally, when a person without PTSD goes through a traumatic event the body releases stress hormones, which in time returns back to normal; However, a person with PTSD releases stress hormones that do not return

Post traumatic stress disorder also known as PTSD is a disorder that affects people who have been or witnessed traumatic situation involving actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violation. It is estimated that 7.8 percent of Americans will experience PTSD at some point in their lives. However, when most people think of PTSD they associate it with the military and veteran, at least that’s what first comes to my mind when that word is brought up. With that in mind I will discussing what PTSD is, its symptoms, and how it develops, and with the history of it. Along with discussing that I will be talking about how PTSD is seen in a biological perspective and how this perspective may address PTSD and the treatment biological perspective