Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders

Reactive Attachment Disorder

Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder

Post-Ttraumatic Stress Disorder (includes child version)

Acute Stress Disorder

Adjustment Disorders

PTSD An anxiety related disorder characteriszed by strong and haunting memories and flashback, nightmares interpersonal challenges and anxiety. Can last for very long time. May also lead to dissociation.

Characterized by recurring memories and dreams social withdrawal, anxiety and disordered sleep

Appears as a result of emotion trauma common among soldiers, first responders, assault or torture victims, although most people respond with resilience to such events and do not develop PTSD. Residential School and "Indian Hospital" survivors also commonly demonstrate PTSD.

Observed at about 1-2% of general population but as high as 50-60% for some of these groups of people (i.e. Viet Nam War vets). See Romeo Dallaire’s Shake hands with the Devil

Characterized by:

• Re-Experiencing the traumatic event – Unable to forget and having nightmares.
  
• Avoidance of stimuli associated with event or a “numbing of responsiveness” or disinterest in others and a sense of estrangement with an inability to have positive feelings.
  
• Symptoms of increased arousal – hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response and disordered sleep.

Other factors (Davison et al, 2008): Higher intelligence seems to be a protective factor, the more extreme the trauma more extreme the PTSD, sometimes dissociation arises as a result of the trauma and is often (76%) associated with insecure childhood attachment (Muller et al., 2004).

Often also associate with anxiety or depression, anger and guilt, relationship problems substance abuse, poor physical health (stress response) and occupational impairment and suicidal ideation.

Post Trauma “Crisis interventions” may actually exacerbate the development of PTSD rather than “debrief” or reduce it.

Sometimes therapy can elicit the traumatic response as well becoming harmful rather than helpful.