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Image by JJ Ying

Stress disorders

Prevention and treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Image by Timon Studler

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Part of my research focuses on the prevention and treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

PTSD can occur after a traumatic event like:

  •    Combat exposure

  •    Terrorist attack

  •    Sexual or physical assault

  •    Serious accidents (e.g. car wreck)

  •    Natural disasters (e.g. earthquake, fire, flood…)

Trauma, stress and the development of PTSD

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Most people who go through a trauma show certain PTSD symptoms at the beginning, yet only some develop PTSD over time. It isn't clear why some people develop PTSD and others don't.

 

There are four main symptoms characterizing PTSD:

   Reliving the event

      Patients suffer from nightmares, bad memories, and flashbacks of the trauma.

   Avoiding situations

      Patients try to avoid situations, places, and even people who remind them of

      the traumatic event.

   Negative changes in beliefs and feelings

      People experience feelings like fear, guilt and shame. They often lose interest

      in activities they once used to enjoy. 

   Hyperarousal

      People are alert and always on the lookout for danger.

      More importantly, patients have problems sleeping and concentrating.

 

(http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/basics/what-is-ptsd.asp)

 

At our department, we started a questionnaire research about PTSD symptoms in Syrian refugees who seek asylum in Germany. The paper about this research is already in preparation.

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