The registered nurse is leading a support group for partners of military veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A participant asks the nurse how to identify the typical symptoms of PTSD. The nurse responds that most individuals with PTSD report which symptoms?

Question

The registered nurse is leading a support group for partners of military veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  A participant asks the nurse how to identify the typical symptoms of PTSD.  The nurse responds that most individuals with PTSD report which symptoms?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a reaction to a traumatic or catastrophic event that is typically life-threatening to oneself or others. There are 3 categories of PTSD symptoms: Reexperiencing the traumatic event Examples include intrusive memories, flashbacks, recurring nightmares, and feelings of intense distress/loss of control or strong physical reactions to event reminders (rapid, pounding heart; gastrointestinal distress; diaphoresis)Avoiding reminders of the trauma Examples include avoidance of activities, places, thoughts, or other triggers that could be trauma reminders, feeling detached and emotionally numb, loss of interest in life, lack of future goals, and amnesia related to important details of the eventIncreased anxiety and emotional arousal Examples include insomnia, irritability, outbursts of anger and/or rage, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, and feeling jumpy Reexperiencing the traumatic event Examples include intrusive memories, flashbacks, recurring nightmares, and feelings of intense distress/loss of control or strong physical reactions to event reminders (rapid, pounding heart; gastrointestinal distress; diaphoresis) Reexperiencing the traumatic event Examples include intrusive memories, flashbacks, recurring nightmares, and feelings of intense distress/loss of control or strong physical reactions to event reminders (rapid, pounding heart; gastrointestinal distress; diaphoresis) Avoiding reminders of the trauma Examples include avoidance of activities, places, thoughts, or other triggers that could be trauma reminders, feeling detached and emotionally numb, loss of interest in life, lack of future goals, and amnesia related to important details of the event Avoiding reminders of the trauma Examples include avoidance of activities, places, thoughts, or other triggers that could be trauma reminders, feeling detached and emotionally numb, loss of interest in life, lack of future goals, and amnesia related to important details of the event Increased anxiety and emotional arousal Examples include insomnia, irritability, outbursts of anger and/or rage, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, and feeling jumpy Increased anxiety and emotional arousal Examples include insomnia, irritability, outbursts of anger and/or rage, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, and feeling jumpy (Option A) Auditory hallucinations and feelings of paranoia are not characteristic symptoms of PTSD. These are characteristic of schizophrenia. (Option C) Rapidly changing emotions, delusions, and lethargy are not characteristic symptoms of PTSD. (Option D) Daytime sleepiness is not characteristic of PTSD. Educational objective: The 3 categories of PTSD symptoms include reexperiencing the traumatic event, avoiding reminders of the trauma, and increased anxiety and emotional arousal.

The Registered Nurse Is Leading a Support Group for Partners