Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent mental problem that develops after exposure to a traumatic event or ordeal such as death or severe physical harm (Hooley, Butcher, Nock, & Mineka, 2017). PTSD is a multi-interpretable phenomenon and the disorder can be explained from various casual perspectives. Each perspective has a different internal logic, but equally plausible interpretation. Each perspective also has different useful treatment implications. In this paper, PTSD will be explained from two perspectives –the cognitive-axiological perspective and the behavioral perspective. The paper will also discuss how the two perspectives affect the diagnosis and assessment of PTSD.
The cognitive-axiological perspective focuses on what an individual is thinking about, perceives, and assesses as valuable (Jakovljevic, Brajkovic, Jaksic, Loncar, Aukst-Margetic, & Lasic, 2012). This perspective holds that we are shaped by our thoughts and knowledge of ourselves and the world. According to this perspective, all psychological stressors are cognitively mediated and the pathological behaviors that cause post-traumatic stress disorder are related to dysfunctional and conflicting strategies, misinterpretations, and misrepresentations (Jakovljevic, Brajkovic, Jaksic, Loncar, Aukst-Margetic, & Lasic, 2012). According to this perspective, much of PTSD may be created by errors or biases in thinking. Therefore, based on this viewpoint, the diagnosis and assessment of PTSD should focus on the cognitive ability of the patient.
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The behavioral perspective focuses on what and how the patient does. According to this perspective, the post-traumatic disorder is a disorder of reactivity and this disorder manifests itself as typical maladaptive behavior when an individual interacts with the interpersonal or physical environment (Jakovljevic, Brajkovic, Jaksic, Loncar, Aukst-Margetic, & Lasic, 2012). PTSD may be as a result of coincidental reinforcement of different behaviors and is related to an individual’s psychological needs, non-adaptive learning, and bad choices. To add to this, other aspects of PTSD are caused by a patient’s wrong attitudes and believes about PTSD symptoms (Sareen, 2014). Therefore, based on this viewpoint, the diagnosis and assessment of PTSD should focus on the behavior of the patient.
References
Hooley, J., Butcher, J., Nock, M., & Mineka, S. (2017). Abnormal psychology. 17 th Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Publishing.
Jakovljevic, M., Brajkovic, L., Jaksic, N., Loncar, M., Aukst-Margetic, B., & Lasic, D. (2012). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from different perspectives: A transdisciplinary integrative approach. Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Croatia, Vol. 24 (3); 246-255.
Sareen, J. (2014). Posttraumatic stress disorder in adults: Impact, comorbidity, risk factors, and treatment. Can J Psychiatry, Vol. 59 (9): 460-467.
