The chapter discussed the long-term adjustment of individuals who have been raped. This discussion pointed out that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Group of answer choicestypically begins within 24 hours after the trauma.always involves vivid nightmares and/or intrusive thoughts.may include reactions such as intense fear and anxiety.is the response that is mentioned most frequently by people who have been raped.

Which of the following provides the most accurate information about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in response to sexual assault?Group of answer choicesA rape victim may experience PTSD, including feeling extremely anxious or even emotionally numb following the assault.Unfortunately, PTSD is an extremely persistent disorder, and more than half of all rape victims will still have PTSD more than a year after the assault.PTSD wipes away a woman’s memory of the rape, and she will not be able to recall the event until about a year after the assault.Unfortunately, PTSD cannot be treated with traditional psychotherapies; however, techniques that require hypnosis appear to be effective.

Posttraumatic stress disorder can begin immediately after the traumatic event or even years later. Group of answer choicesTrue False

DSM and ICD critics question whether (a) trauma/stressor-related disorders are distinct from anxiety disorders, (b) posttraumatic stressis a reaction or disorder, (c) adjustment disorder is a “wastebasket” diagnosis, and (d) prolonged grief should be a disorder.• PDM frames PTSD/complex PTSD as a relational problem in which therapists must avoid inflicting secondary trauma.• Trauma is assessed along HiTOP’s “Internalizing,” “Thought Disorder,” and “Externalizing” spectra dimensions.• As part of moving away from a medical model, PTMF prefers the term “adversity” to “trauma

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) both involve an exaggerated response to everyday stressors and a heightened state of anxiety or arousal that can impede concentration and daily functioning.  Both can be effectively treated with medication, including anxiolytics and antidepressants, and with therapy, the most effective of which is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).  Psychologists believe that the unpredictable nature of stressors plays a key role in the development and persistence of both disorders.  However, the response to predictable threats is believed to be normal.A study was conducted to investigate how individuals diagnosed with PTSD or GAD respond to predictable and unpredictable threats.  Twenty patients with PTSD, 20 patients with GAD, and 50 control participants took part in the study.  The groups did not differ significantly with respect to age or gender.  The study involved two conditions, each three minutes in duration.  During the first (predictable) condition, participants were shown a cue (red box) at random times while gazing through a viewing apparatus.  The cue signaled the imminent presentation of various loud noises such as thunder or screaming, meant to induce fear.  During the second (unpredictable) condition, the loud noise was presented randomly with no warning.The magnitude of the participants' startle response was measured by an eye blink reflex recorded with electrodes placed under the eyes (measured in microvolts [Table 1]).Table 1  Mean Startle Response in Microvolts by Group and ConditionPredictable UnpredictableControl 14 19PTSD 15 43GAD 18 37After the study, participants were asked to rate their subjective fear on a scale of 0 (no fear) to 10 (most fear).  The controls reported the least fear under both conditions.  PTSD participants expressed greater fear than GAD participants during the unpredictable condition, but GAD participants reported greater fear than PTSD participants during the predictable condition.C. Grillon, D. S. Pine, S. Lissek, S. Rabin, and M. Vythilingam ©2009 by Society of Biological Psychiatry. Question 16What is the main difference between GAD and PTSD?A.People with PTSD tend to hallucinate, whereas people with GAD do not.B.PTSD requires a long and consistent history of adjustment problems; GAD does not.C.PTSD requires a precipitating event to bring about the disorder; GAD does not.D.People with PTSD worry about a wide range of events; people with GAD worry about specific events.

A student who survived a school shooting last year experiences frequent flashbacks of the event, becomes anxious in crowded public spaces, and is unable to sleep soundly. Which statement regarding the student is TRUE?Multiple ChoiceTheir symptoms are consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).The student can move forward by reviewing media coverage of the event.They are experiencing a temporary challenge that can be overcome with positive thinking.The student should have self-awareness and avoid social contact.