Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression in Battered Women

Between February 2001 and April 2003, many were completed by approximately 9,282 Americans, 18 years of age or above, completed a survey that was conducted by The National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). According to The National Comorbidity Survey Replication study, 5,692 Americans were diagnosed with PTSD. However, this research used the DSM-4 criteria. It was estimated that the lifetime prevalence was about 6.8% for Americans in young adulthood. This was a jump from the previous year at 3.5%. The lifetime prevalence for women was higher, at 9.7%, than it was for men at 3.6%. “Kessler, R.C., Berglund, P., Delmer, O., Jin, R., Merikangas, K.R., & Walters, E.E. (2005).”

The symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder vary. They can include an increased level of anxiety, which can result in difficulty sleeping, concentrating, and an exaggerated response to noise. PTSD can affect a woman who has experienced sexual assault ability to remember past events, in particular events associated with her assault. (2) PTSD can cause feelings of detachment and numbness, as well as a desire to avoid anything that the victim might associate with her assault. While doctors have been able to identify the symptoms in many victims of sexual assault the exact cause of the disorder is still questioned. Is the disorder the body's response to trauma? If so what relationship exists between the symptoms associated with PTSD as trauma? A strong correlation has been found between sufferers of PTSD and poor health. (3) PTSD can lead to depression and sickness. PTSD if not treated can also indirectly cause accidents that can affect a victim's health. These accidents can be the result high levels of anxiety, of a lack of ability to focus, and a lack of ability to respond.

Surprisingly it has been shown that women are twice as likely to suffer from PTSD, as are men. (Norris, Fran H.) It is has been suggested that the reason for this discrepancy is that women have a higher instance of being exposed to a qualifying traumatic event. Age also seems to play a role. It seems that as the age of a demographical group increases the likelihood for PTSD decreases.

When someone hears about Post Traumatic Stress disorder, they assume it only affects those in active duty or military veterans. However, it can affects those who have seen natural disasters, severe child abuse and horrible events. The national comorbidity survey replications did a survey on how many people in the US have PTSD they say, “(NCS-R), conducted between February 2001 and April 2003, comprised interviews of a nationally representative sample of 9,282 Americans aged 18 years and older. PTSD was assessed among 5,692 participants, using DSM-IV criteria. The NCS-R estimated the lifetime prevalence of PTSD among adult Americans to be 6.8% (1). Current past year PTSD prevalence was estimated at 3.5% (2).The lifetime prevalence of PTSD among men was 3.6% and among women was 9.7%.

The prevalence of PTSD is shown that women develop the disorder at a rate twice of that of men, despite other factors (Simmons, 2010). As stated in the National Comorbidity Survey, total lifetime prevalence of

Three groups were utilized in this study these included, “ those with no mental health diagnoses, those with mental health diagnoses other than PTSD (290.0–319.0, excluding 309.81), and those with PTSD (309.81) and co-morbid mental health diagnoses.” (Cohen, etal, 2009). These groups were followed

Formerly seen in individuals from combat, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is now seen in civilians following traumatic events, ranging from violence, accidents, serious injury and life threatening illness (Association, 2000). PTSD has debilitating psycho-emotional and psychobiological effects, which can impair an individual’s daily life and can be life threatening. Consequently, individuals with PTSD often experience difficulties in maintaining relationships, which often leads to “occupational instability, martial problems and divorces, and family dispute and difficulties in parenting” (Iribarren, Prolo, Neagos, & Chiappelli, 2005). In some cases, PTSD can be severe enough to hinder the individual’s daily life and can lead to suicidal tendencies (Iribarren et al., 2005). Having this knowledge, PTSD is marked as a psychiatric disorder and has been identified as comorbid with other disorders, such as major depressive disorder (Oquendo et al., 2005). According to recent statistics, the National Center for PTSD estimated that 7.8% of the U.S. population would suffer from PTSD at some point in their lives, with women (10.4%) twice as likely than men (5%) (Iribarren et al., 2005; Kessler, Sonnega, Bromet, Hughes, & Nelson, 1995). However, given the worldwide turmoil, it is possible the numbers will increase and may even become a significant health concern of this century, since PTSD symptoms rarely disappear completely. Recovery from PTSD can elicit more stress, since it

More women are serving in combat in the United States armed forces than ever before, despite this, there is little research on combat PTSD in women and comparisons of PTSD among men and women as well as how PTSD presents in differing ways in women than to their male counterparts. Post-traumatic stress disorder – more commonly known as PTSD – is most commonly associated with veterans of war and was originally termed shell-shock which was seen as a side effect of war during World War II. Now, scientists understand much more about post-traumatic stress disorder and it has become a treatable psychological disorder. However, as with many other psychological disorders such as depression and schizophrenia, PTSD varies minutely between men and women. (Gilbert, Nock, Schacter, & Wegner, 2015, p. 599-600)

Sexual assault in the military against women is a very real and serious issue in the military. Sexual assault is more likely to cause PTSD than any other events throughout a woman’s lifetime. Not every woman who experiences traumatic events develop PTSD but preexisting factors can increase chances of developing PTSD. Some factors may include: “Having a past mental health problem (for example depression or anxiety), experienced a very severe or life-threatening trauma, were sexually assaulted, were injured during the event, had a severe reaction at the time of the event, Experienced other stressful events afterwards, do not have good social support” (Veteran Affairs). For women, PTSD symptoms are different than what men experience. Women compared

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a concern for many Americans, especially soldiers. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs reports that 11-20% of military personnel who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan struggle with PTSD ("PTSD: National Center for PTSD"). Thankfully, extensive time, effort, and money go into researching the disorder so that psychologists, psychiatrists, and doctors can provide their patients proper treatment. Today, one branch of this research focuses specifically on whether gender plays a role in the development of symptoms. The number of and roles for women in the military continue

Most women who have suffered from IVP are not being screened properly for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

“According to the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, the most traumatic events most often experienced in women are rape.” (Goulston, 2008; pg 17) PTSD appears in people who have encountered a traumatic event during their lifetime. Not everyone who has experienced a traumatic event may develop PTSD. “More than 70% of Americans suffer a traumatic event at some time in their lives. Of these trauma survivors, up to 20% develop PTSD.” (Goulston, 2008; pg 13) There are numerous of symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. Beckner & Arden state that, a normal indicator to stress and trauma involves females experiencing physiological, behavioural and physical symptoms. (Beckner & Arden, 2008; pg 25) With physiological

The setting for this research was in a Midwest City. The study consisted on 20 participants. The participants in the study consisted on psychologically abused woman, who were recently divorced or separated for at least 2 years from their spouse or romantic partner. These women varied between the ages of 32 and 54 years old. They were different ethnicities such as European Americans, Hispanic American, and Native American. The participants were also from different backgrounds and consisted of Educational levels.

The presence of PTSD may account for an important component of the excess medical morbidity and functional status limitations seen in women with depression.

This study was conducted by Rudy J. Aguilar, Narina , Nightingale( March ,1994).The purpose of this study was to examine the self esteem of 48 women who were battered and compared to them with the group of 48 non battered women .The group of battered women experienced lower self esteem than the non battered women. Four cluster of battering experience were identified, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and miscellaneous abuse. Analysis indicates that emotional controlling abuse was the only abuse cluster that was significantly related to lower self esteem. Findings suggest that abuse that is controlling in nature might play a significant role in the feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness noted in battered women and may contribute to the difficulty that some battered women have in terminating their abusive relationship.