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PTSD
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Fear Response
Failure of Fear Extinction
Memory
Anxiety
Memory Encoding
PTSD
PTSD is a disorder associated with changes in neural
circuitry involving frontal and limbic systems
Altered metabolism in such structures are
correlated to PTSD.
It is an anxiety disorder caused by the onset of an
extreme stressor
combat, childhood physical and sexual abuse,
MVAs, rape and natural disasters.
Perceptual induced symptom activation in PTSD is
associated with an emotionally determined motor
preparation, ie: subcortically initiated rather than
cortically controlled memory mechanisms determine
the central pattern (Fancati, Vermetten & Bremner, 2007).
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Fear Response
Adaptation to danger is normal and crucial for
survival. The alteration referred to as diagnostic
criteria for PTSD resides in the overgeneralization
of danger cues; continuous perceiving nonthreatening situations as dangerous
Frequent recall is a part of the diagnostic criteria for
PTSD as per the DSM-IV classification for psychiatric
disorders.
c. MEMORY - PTSD
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Memory
Memory deficits in PTSD have significant
associations with reduction in hippocampal volume,
where spatial and episodic memory, stress and
emotional regulation, and novelty processing take
place (Geuze et al., 2005).
Smaller hippocampal volumes (5 26% reduction)
have been shown in patients exhibiting combat
trauma, physical and sexual abuse and childhood sex
abuse found in different areas within the structures,
depending on the trauma (Bremner, 2003; Geuze et al.,
2005)
Reduction in hippocampal volume is mostly due to neurotoxicity
caused by elevated glucocorticoids, reduced BDNF and inhibition of
regeneration of damaged brain tissue (Bremner, 2002, 2003).
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d. ANXIETY - PTSD
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Anxiety
Anxiety is a result of appraisals relating to
impending threat
PTSD is a disorder whereby the problem resides in the
memory of an event that has already passed.
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Memory Encoding
Intrusion characteristics and patterns of retrieval found in
persistent PTSD are due to the way the trauma is encoded
and laid down in memory (Brewin et al, 1996).
There are two routes to retrieve autobiographical data:
1. High-order meaning-based retrieval strategies (first day at
school, first car, etc.)
2. Directly triggered by stimuli associated with event (smell,
music, imagery, etc.).
UNDERSTANDING PTSD
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