Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Symptoms, Screening and Treatment

Volume 1 - Issue 2

Anil Kumar*

Received:September 20, 2019;   Published: October 04, 2019

DOI: 10.32474/CTBM.2019.01.000110

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Abstract

Sometimes, as a result of experiencing or witnessing a distressful/traumatic event, there are changes in the brain leading to an anxiety disorder called as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In the present article, symptoms of PTSD have been described which may be categorized into four different categories viz. flashbacks, avoiding behaviour, unusual alertness and negative feelings. Person with PTSD has mental problems like depression, phobias and anxiety. Person when feels that distressful event is occurring again or recalls in the memory, there may be increased heart beats, high blood pressure etc. Here, screening for PTSD has also been described. On MRI of brain, patient has difference in the size of hippocampus compared to normal person. There are changes in the levels of certain hormones involved in stress conditions also. Mostly doctors recommend counselling, psychotherapy, medicines or combination of these..

Keywords:Post traumatic stress disorder; Traumatic events; Flashbacks; Depression; Anxiety; Hippocampus

Abstract| Introduction| Symptoms of PTSD| Physical Symptoms| Screening for PTSD| Treatment| Medicines| Other Therapies| Conclusion| Acknowledgement| References|