When disaster strikes, acute stress disorder may follow

✍ Scribed by Cheryl Koopman; Catherine Classen; Etzel CardeN¯ta; David Spiegel

• Book ID: 102926837
• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 990 KB
• Volume: 8
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0894-9867
• DOI: 10.1002/jts.2490080103

✦ Synopsis

During and immediately following a traumatic event, people may manifest a pattern of dissociative and anxiety symptoms and other reactions, referred to as Acute Stress Disorder. A review of the empirical literature on psychological reactions to trauma suggest that this pattern of symptoms has open been identifed across different kin& of traumatic events. It k likely to constitute a psychological adaptation to a stressful event, limiting painful thoughts and feelings associated with the event and allowing the person to function at least minima&. Continuation of these symptom, however, may impair the person's quality of life and disrupt social and otherfunctioning. If symptoms last beyond a month following the traumatic event, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may ensue, continuing for months or even years after the precipitating event. Hence, it i s important to be able to identifi this pattern of reactions that may be manifested in reaction to trauma, so that appropriate intervention can be provided. Although it was not oficially recognized in the 3rd edition Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-111-R), Acute Stress Disorder is included as a separate diagnosk in the DSM-IZ