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%.