Post Trauma

Spitalnick, Josh. Difede, JoAnn. Rizzo, Albert. O. Rothbaum, Barbara. “Emerging treatments for PTSD” Clinical Psychology Review, Volume 29, Issue 8, December 2009, Pages 715-726, ISSN 0272-7358, Web. 21 April 2016

Foa and her colleagues (2011) created prolonged Exposure (PE) for clients trying to overcome with PTSD that is based on the emotional processing therapy (Foa, 2011). PE treatment plan includes collecting of information associated to both the traumatic experience and the trauma survivor's responses to it, the teaching of breathing retraining techniques, education, the re-experiencing of the trauma in imagination, and in vivo exposure (Foa, 2011). When compared with CPT, PE is a 10-session treatment (60-90 minutes) that is centered on both in-vivo and imaginal exposure to the trauma memory and ensuing adaptation. PE reports that repetitive stimulation of the trauma memory allows the clients to integrate new, counteractive information about themself and their world. Additionally, homework assignments in PE allow the client to face safe situations, which were formerly resolute to be threatening based upon inaccurate post-traumatic beliefs (Foa,

Trauma, a severely distressing or disturbing experience, can lead to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which is a type of anxiety disorder that results from experiencing extremely emotional trauma or situation in which the individual felt at risk of injury or death. According to Putts (2014), both trauma and PTSD are going unrecognized in clients experiencing psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorders although a majority of clients diagnosed with psychotic disorders experience symptoms that meet the criteria for PTSD (p. 83). Putts (2014) believes the phenomenon could be a result of the challenge a clients in a psychotic state presents

This treatment approach is based on cognitive and learning theories, tackling-misleading beliefs related to the traumatic events of acknowledgments related to the abuse and provides a supportive environment of which individuals are encouraged to talk about their traumatic experience. A numerous amount of research has been carried out to investigate into how effective CBT really can be for PTSD. (Resick et al, 2002) carried out an investigation comparing CBT with strong cognitive restructuring focus and CBT with a strong exposure focus and to a waiting-list control of rape survivors. Prior to this experiment approximately 80% of patients who completed either form of CBT no longer met the criteria for PTSD. Once this investigation was complete a follow up treatment took place of which it was noted 2% of the waiting list group had lost the PTSD diagnoses. Only a year after this investigation Bryant, Moulds, Guthrie, Dang & Nixon, (2003) restructured the experiment comparing exposure alone, exposure plus cognitive restructuring, and supportive counselling in civilians with PTSD resulting from various traumatic events. At this particular follow up 65-80% of participants who either completed either form of CBT were now clear of PTSD diagnosis, compared to less than 40% of those who completed supportive counselling.

I will be collaborating with The National Institute of Mental Health for the funding of the research project. The research will attempt to identify what factors determine whether someone with PTSD will respond well to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) intervention, aiming to develop more personalized, effective and efficient treatments. The mission of this project is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure (National Institutes of Health, 2013).

As children go through life, they will come upon stressful situations and experiences. Many children will work through the challenges that life brings, build resilience and move forward, however, some children may experience more extreme traumatic events that can result in life difficulties due to serious trauma symptoms that are much harder to manage. Trauma-Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an evidence based treatment model designed to help youth who have experienced a significantly traumatic life event. TF-CBT uses skills and strength based therapy to address symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety (Cohen et al, 2006). This research is an examination of trauma focused cognitive behavior therapy as a model of practice including the areas of history and development of the model, its relationship with other models of practice, considerations of appropriate populations, methods and components for treatment, effectiveness of the intervention and relevance for social work practice.

Levi, Bar‐Haim, Kreiss and Fruchter (2016) provide effective psychotherapy approaches for treating combat veterans with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, which they show their efficacy with a great deal of support. The research is more comprehensive than most studies as it provides an assessment of the psychiatric status at baseline, post-treatment and 8–12 months follow-up using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, the PTSD Questionnaire, the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale and the Psychotherapy Outcome Assessment and Monitoring System-Trauma Version assessment questionnaire. However, the researchers did not conduct randomized controlled trials to determine treatment efficacy. Litz et al., (2009) added to the research on the treatment of PTSD by stimulating a critical examination of moral injury. The study makes use of the available literature and offers a working conceptual framework and a set of intervention strategies designed to repair moral injury, which is a strength also evident in Peterson et al. (2011).

Throughout the course of this semester we have examined numerous issues which have all had different implications for the brain = behavior argument. Some who have been skeptical of the validity of this idea have been swayed by observations that processes and behaviors they originally thought to have a cloudy neurobiological basis in fact have a sound biological and physiological underpinning. One such phenomenon which can help elucidate the ongoing brain = behavior debate is Post-Traumatic Stress disorder, or PTSD. Most people are familiar in some sense with the phenomenon of PTSD. This phenomenon has been renamed, reworked, and redefined numerous times over the past

African Americans living in urban, low-income, impoverished environments are at high risk for exposure to traumatic events, and have a potential prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to previous and repeated trauma exposure.

Kar, Nilamadhab. “Cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: a review.” Cibi.nlm.gov. National Center for Biotechnical Information, 2011. Web. 21 July, 2016.

“Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes,” (Feldman, 2009, p.5). There are many different views of psychological studies. However, they all share the basic foundation. They analyze memories, emotions, perceptions, thoughts, and reasoning processes, as well as the body’s functioning and what maintains these. In addition, each field of psychology strives to improve lives. Understanding behavior and mental processes aids in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses (Feldman, 2009, p.5). There is a vast array of recognized mental illnesses. This paper will reflect on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; the causes of it, the features and associated features, the major psychological perspectives on PTSD, the

Trauma can be defined as an event or experience that hinders an individual’s ability to cope (Covington, 2008). These experiences have the power to alter biology and brain function, especially earlier on in life. Trauma can change an individual’s world-view, impacting their sense of self. This can lead to difficulties with self-regulation and higher incidences of impulsive behavior (Markoff et al., 2005). Often, individuals who have endured traumatic incidences turn to self-medication as a form of coping (De Bellis, 2002).

Two treatment models that are used for survivors of PTSD are Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and spirituality. The effectiveness of these two treatment models are supported by several resources. Resick (2001) notes that “CPT is a manualized, 12-session, specific form of CBT for PTSD that has a primary focus on cognitive interventions.” The first session of CPT is

Approximately twenty-five to thirty percent of those who have experienced a traumatic event will proceed to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (Fry, 2016). Those who have experienced a traumatic event and developed PTSD continue reliving it to an extent in which it interferes with their lives. The symptoms of the disorder affect the person’s life by interfering with daily activities and personal relationships with friends and family. There is

The term “Psychological trauma” refers to damage wrought from a traumatic event, which that damages one’s ability to cope with stressors. “Trauma” is commonly defined as an exposure to a situation in which a person is confronted with an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to self or others’ physical well-being (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Specific types of client trauma frequently encountered by which therapists and other mental health workers frequently encounter in a clinical setting include sexual abuse, physical , or sexual assault, natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis, domestic violence, and school or/and work related violence (James & Gilliland, 2001). Traumatic