Question

Keisha suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Her primary symptoms are being unable to relax and difficulty falling asleep. Based on this description, Keishaâs symptoms are an example of which aspect of PTSD?

Answer 1

Answer:

Changes in reactivity.

Explanation:

In psychopathology, PTSD is defined in the DSM-V as a disorder that can be diagnosed based in 5 different aspects:

• Stressors: The person was exposed to an event that threatened injury, violence or death.
• Intrusion Symptoms: It refers to re-experiencing the trauma in forms of flashbacks or nightmares.
• Changes of mood or thoughts: Blaming self for the trauma, negative feelings, depressive mood.
• Avoidance: The person tries to avoid what reminds him/her of the trauma.
• Changes in reactivity: This has to do with how the person reacts to frightful experiences, usually by having difficulties concentrating, relaxing or falling/staying asleep.

In this example Keisha is suffering PTSD and her symptoms are that she is unable to relax and difficulty falling asleep, we can see that these symptoms are in the aspect of "changes in reactivity". Therefore, her symptoms are an example of Changes in reactivity.