What are the other Names for this
Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)
- Acute Stress Reaction
- Mental Shock
- Psychological Shock
What is Acute Stress Disorder?
(Definition/Background Information)
- Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is characterized
by the onset of dissociative and anxiety symptoms occurring within a month of a
traumatic event
- Typically, the traumatic event has provoked
an intense feeling of fear, sadness, and/or helplessness. The more directly an
individual is exposed to the event, the
higher the risk of psychological damage
- Acute Stress Disorder emerges soon after
the event, and its effects take place rapidly. Dissociative symptoms (being
numb, less aware of the surroundings, and sense of being dissociative from
self) are the distinguishing factors that an individual may have Acute Stress
Disorder, and not post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- In order to diagnose Acute Stress Disorder,
there must be a clear connection between the traumatic event and the
development of symptoms
- A type of psychotherapy, called cognitive
behavioral therapy (CBT), has been shown to have positive results for those with
Acute Stress Disorder. With effective psychological treatment and a good
support system, the prognosis of ASD is very good
- If left unresolved, there is high chance
that Acute Stress Disorder might progress and evolve into PTSD
Who gets Acute Stress Disorder? (Age and Sex
Distribution)
- Acute Stress Disorder occurs in individuals
exposed to an exceptionally traumatic event
- It may occur in any age group or gender; no
racial or ethnic predilection is also observed
What are the Risk Factors for Acute Stress Disorder?
(Predisposing Factors)
Individuals who are at an increased risk of
Acute Stress Disorder are:
- Being exposed to a highly traumatic event
- Experiencing PTSD in the past
- Being diagnosed with prior mental health
problem
- Perception: Those who feel themselves (inappropriately)
responsible for the event, personalizing the trauma, and/or having generally
pessimistic attitudes are more likely to develop Acute Stress Disorder
- Prior exposure: Individuals, who
experienced trauma as children, are more likely to develop ASD
It is important to note that having a risk
factor does not mean that one will get the condition. A risk factor increases
ones chances of getting a condition compared to an individual without the risk
factors. Some risk factors are more important than others.
Also, not having a risk factor does not
mean that an individual will not get the condition. It is always important to
discuss the effect of risk factors with your healthcare provider.
What are the Causes of Acute Stress Disorder? (Etiology)
The primary cause of Acute Stress Disorder is exposure to a traumatic event.
- Humans undergo biological changes when
confronted with an intense stimulus. When extreme fear is felt, an individual’s
primal instinct drives them towards survival (surviving through the situation).
The heart rate and blood pressure increase, muscles tense up, and breathing
gets faster during one’s response to a traumatizing event
- After the event, various stimuli may
trigger a ‘flashback’ to the event, causing the initial symptoms to occur, thus,
leading to extreme hyperarousal rather than anxiety
- Natural disasters (hurricanes, floods, and
earthquakes) or accidents (car crashes) are less traumatic than events where
one individual intentionally harms another. There is a significantly higher
rate of Acute Stress Disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder in survivors
of a terrorist-inflicted trauma
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder?
The symptoms of an Acute Stress Disorder must
be present within a month of exposure to a highly traumatic event and usually
last for several days. The symptoms presented should not have been caused by
substance abuse or a general medical condition.
The signs and symptoms of Acute Stress
Disorder include:
- Feeling numb, detached, or less aware of
surroundings
- De-realization (altered perception)
- Depersonalization: Sense of being
dissociative from self
- Re-experiencing the trauma through dreams,
images, or flashbacks
- Conversely, avoidance of people, places,
and other stimuli that trigger thoughts of the event
- Hyperarousal or anxiety
- Insomnia
- Survivor's guilt
How is Acute Stress Disorder Diagnosed?
Acute Stress Disorder is a relatively new disorder that was added to the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) to clarify time-specific trauma reactions from long-term effects caused by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is also used to identify those individuals at risk for PTSD.
- In order to diagnose Acute Stress Disorder,
there must be a clear connection between the traumatic event and the
development of symptoms
- Symptoms usually develop within a few
minutes, but may take up to a month to fully develop
- Symptoms should resolve within a month of
exposure to the stressor (an agent or event causing the stress)
Many clinical conditions may have similar signs and symptoms. Your healthcare provider may perform additional tests to rule out other clinical conditions to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.
What are the possible
Complications of Acute Stress Disorder?
Complications of Acute Stress Disorder include
the following:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder is a
possibility, when Acute Stress Disorder is not treated effectively
- Daily life may become hard for the
individual if they are constantly reminded of the traumatic event
- Those suffering from a traumatic event may
resort to alcohol or other substances to alter their mental state in a way that
allows them to forget or "numb" their emotional pain
How is Acute Stress Disorder Treated?
A treatment of Acute Stress Disorder may include
the following:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): It is a
type of psychotherapy that has shown positive results in those affected by Acute
Stress Disorder.
- CBT's goal is to primarily alter
maladaptive thinking patterns in regards to the event. The individual's
behavior must also be changed in accordance to the new way of thinking
- A new thinking pattern, in addition to
behavior, will allow the individual to cope with future stressful situations
and/or triggers of the initial event
- Those who are treated through CBT, soon
after the trauma, are less likely to show post-traumatic stress disorder
symptoms later
- The chance of developing PTSD after
cognitive-behavioral therapy is only about 20%, in comparison to the 80%
without therapy
Medications may also be used; however,
their usefulness is limited to treating only specific symptoms of the disorder such
as:
- Clonazepam for panic attacks and anxiety
- Trazodone for insomnia
- Fluoxetine for avoidance
How can Acute Stress Disorder be Prevented?
- Generally, the traumatic event itself
cannot be prevented. However, the time-frame taken by the exposed individual to
begin to cope with the event is important for recovery and eliminating the
onset of post-traumatic stress disorder
- If the affected individual analyzes the
event, addresses their feelings with respect to it, and constructs a healthy
plan to cope in a timely manner with the situation, then positive results are
very likely
- Some individuals also benefit from
describing their traumatizing experience several times to those they are really
attached or close to
- The probability of healthy recovery
significantly increases with the strong support system of friends and family as
well
What is the Prognosis of Acute Stress Disorder?
(Outcomes/Resolutions)
- With effective psychological treatment and a
good support system, the prognosis of Acute Stress Disorder is generally good
- If left unresolved or untreated, Acute
Stress Disorder is more than likely to progress into post-traumatic stress
disorder
Additional and Relevant Useful
Information for Acute Stress Disorder:
- The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (DSM) of the American Psychiatric Association is the most
commonly used reference among mental health professionals. It contains
diagnostic criteria, research findings, and treatment information for a wide
variety of mental disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a
syndrome characterized by “re-experiencing” a traumatic event, and it includes
a decreased responsiveness and avoidance of any event associated with the
trauma
The following article link will help you understand post-traumatic
stress disorder:
https://www.dovemed.com/diseases-conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/
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