Psychology 2035A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Substance Abuse, Tension Headache

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2035A/B
• Professor: Alvin Segal

Document Summary

A cumulative stress reaction to ongoing occupational stressor: assess the potential impact of stress on psychological and physical health. Stress may contribute to psychological problem : poor academic performance, Insomnia and other sleep disturbances, lowered relationship satisfaction, sexual difficulties, substance abuse. Stress may contribute to onset of psychological disorders (e. g. , depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, eating disorders). Posttraumatic stress disorder (ptsd) involves enduring psychological disturbance attributed to the experience of a major traumatic event. Emotional numbing, alienation, problems in social relations, elevated arousal, anxiety, and guilt. Ptsd is also associated with elevated risk for: substance abuse, depression, anxiety disorders, several physical health problems. Most people who experience trauma do not develop ptsd and traumatic events no need to be experienced directly lead to ptsd. A key predictor is the intensity of one" s reaction at the time of the traumatic event. People have intense emotional reaction during or immediately after traumatic events will show vulnerability to ptsd.