POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD) By: Kaya Schaffner
Depressive Disorder
Definition: when a person goes through two weeks of a depressed mood or loss of interest in pleasure.
15% of people have a depressive disorder in their lifetime.
Prevalence Rate • 80% of people experience depression – usually lasts
around three to four months • In 12% of the cases, depression lasts for around two years.
Symptoms - Social environment or change - Negative events in a persons life - Stress - Genetic vulnerability, neurotransmitter malfunctioning,
psychological problesm, evnts in life
Study Involving Depression
Fernald and Gunnar (2008) oParticipants: 639 Mexican mothers and children oMethod: survey oResults: children of depressed mothers who lived in
extreme poverty produce less cortisol – low level of cortisol also results in children inhibiting additional diseases (example: multiple sclerosis)
oConclusion: socio economic status does have an effect on physical and psychological health
Definition • Inhibited from highly traumatic events such as being in a
war. • Effects: insomnia, hyperviligance or uncontrollable anger • Can also have anhedonia (feeling of positive emotions)
Facts• Davidson et al (2007) and Breslau et al (1998) – found
that post traumatic sress disorder affects 15 – 24% of people who have experienced traumatic events.
• A significant amount of people were diagnosed with PTSD after 911
• Most common types of trauma: personal attack (3%) – wounds (20%) and rape (50%) • Also includes lost of a loved one.
Facts• Davidson et al (2007) and Breslau et al (1998) – found
that post traumatic sress disorder affects 15 – 24% of people who have experienced traumatic events.
• A significant amount of people were diagnosed with PTSD after 911
• Most common types of trauma: personal attack (3%) – wounds (20%) and rape (50%) • Also includes lost of a loved one.
PTSD and War • Vietnam War: 30% of veterans experienced a disorder
such as PTSD after returning from Vietnam • Veterans also inhibit PTSD from other wars such as the
Korean and the Gulf War.
Symptoms • Affective: emotion, anhedonia
• Behavioral: flashbacks; nightmares • Cognitive: trouble concentrating, troubling memories &
hyperarousal • Somatic: body pain; insomnia; rergession in some
children -> loss of skills inherited during childhood
Prevalence Rate • 1-3 % • Lifetime prevalence- men: 5% and women 10%.