Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common mental illnesses. It is understood that thousands of people in the US and other parts of the world suffer from this condition. The sufferers experience anguish and discomfort that highlight the importance of interventions by the mental health community. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) provides useful insights that can be used to better understand PTSD. A clear understanding is the first step toward helping sufferers.
PTSD and Acute Stress Disorder
Since they share many symptoms, PTSD and acute stress disorder are often misdiagnosed. The diagnostic criteria contained in the DSM outlines how the two conditions should be diagnosed. To diagnose an individual with PTSD, the attending practitioner needs to establish that the individual experiences recurrent recollections of a traumatic event and dreams that cause distress (APA, 2013). Furthermore, the DSM stipulates that the individual suffers distress when exposed to cues which trigger the traumatic event (Kilgus, Maxmen & Ward, 2016). On the other hand, the DSM advises that to diagnose acute stress disorder, the practitioner should establish that the patient suffers distress triggered by recollection of some traumatic event (APA, 2013). To make a differential diagnosis, the practitioner needs to determine the length of the symptoms. When the patient has been experiencing the symptoms for between three days and one month, they should be diagnosed with acute stress disorder (Kilgus, Maxmen & Ward, 2016). However, if the symptoms have lasted longer, PTSD is the correct diagnosis.
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PTSD Diagnosis
To make accurate diagnoses, practitioners need to spend adequate amounts of time with their patients. This is particularly true for patients who could be suffering from such conditions as PTSD which have numerous comorbidities. Personally, I think that it is reckless to diagnose a patient with PTSD after a session lasting just one or two hours. I feel that to truly understand the patient’s experience, longer and multiple sessions are needed. However, I understand that time constraints may make it difficult to engage the patient for longer. When allowed only one or two hours with the client, I would ask probing and deep questions that elicit helpful responses. Moreover, I would create an environment that allows the patient to feel comfortable and confident in the process. I believe that these measures would help to accelerate the diagnosis process. Ideally, I think that face-to-face sessions should run for at least one month. This allows the practitioner adequate time to monitor and track the patient.
Reflection
As part of this assignment, I was required to self-administer the PCL-C. This assessment involves a series of questions which are designed to shed light on an individual’s experience with anxiety and stress. In general, I found that the PCL-C was insightful as it allowed me to reflect on my wellbeing and response to stressful situations. For example, one of the questions in this tool concerns whether one avoids situations that could cause stress. Through these questions, I was able to understand the link between everyday experiences and mental disorders. While administering the PCL-C, I also thought deeply about my past. Essentially, the assessment challenged me to understand that past traumatic events can cause mental illnesses. I would strongly advise those wishing to understand the state of their mental health to take the assessment.
PTSD Going Undiagnosed
Despite begin highly prevalent, PTSD goes largely undiagnosed. Various factors are to blame for this. The isolation that those with the condition experience and the fact that they may fail to recognize the symptoms are among these factors (“When to Seek”, n.d). Furthermore, there are those who are convinced that a formal diagnosis is unnecessary and that they can cope without the intervention of a practitioner. Another factor responsible for the many cases of undiagnosed PTSD is that the sufferers are unable to establish a link between the trauma they suffered and the symptoms that they are experiencing (“When to Seek”, n.d). To address these issues, it is important to encourage patients to seek help instead of experimenting with coping mechanisms.
References
American Psychological Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5 th Edition. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Kilgus, M. D., Maxmen, J. S., & Ward, N. G. (2016). Essential psychology & its treatment. 4 th Edition. New York: W.W. Norton.
When to seek PTSD diagnosis. (n.d). PTSD Alliance. Retrieved October 4, 2018 from http://www.ptsdalliance.org/diagnosis/
