ASSIGNMENT: POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common diagnosis among patients that experience traumatic events either directly or indirectly. PTSD affects patient’s functioning, health and wellbeing. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions help patients overcome the distressing symptoms associated with the disorder. Therefore, this essay examines Joe’s case study with a focus on neurobiological basis for PTSD, diagnostic criteria, and psychotherapy treatment.

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Neurobiological Basis for PTSD
PTSD has a neurobiological basis. One of them that relates to Joe’s case study is the dysregulation of the pathway involved in glucocorticoid signaling. The dysregulation heightens the sensitivity of the HPA axis to negative feedback. As a result, patients develop the negative symptoms seen in PTSD. Neurochemicals in the brain also play a role in the development of PTSD. Neurotransmitters such as serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine, and glutamate regulate emotions. An imbalance in these neurotransmitters is a common occurrence in patients diagnosed with PTSD. For example, an imbalance in dopamine levels affects anxiety and fear condition, hence, the hyper-vigilance symptoms in PTSD. Neuro-anatomic changes in the brain may also explain Joe’s development of PTSD (Harnett et al., 2020). For example, patients with reduced hippocampal volume have an increased risk of developing PTSD. Pathological damage to the amygdala also affects the acquisition and processing of fear responses. Therefore, these changes play a role in the development of PTSD.
DSM-5-TR Diagnostic Criteria
The DSM-5-TR has developed criteria for diagnosing patients with PTSD. According to it, a patient is diagnosed with PTSD if they have specific symptoms. They include exposure to traumatic event either directly or indirectly by witnessing or learning about the event. Patients must also have intrusion symptoms related to the traumatic event such as recurrent distressing memories about it, nightmares, dissociative reactions, intense psychological distress when exposed to stimuli related to the event, and avoidance of such stimuli. There is also the alteration in the mood and cognitions related to the traumatic event, alterations in reactivity and arousal, and symptoms causing clinically significant impairment in occupation, social, or other crucial areas of functioning. The symptoms are not due to medical conditions, medications, or substance abuse (Gerber, 2019). The video case presentation provides sufficient information to reach at PTSD diagnosis. There is exposure to a traumatic event, which leads to the development of the symptoms that align with those of PTSD. I agree with the diagnoses presented in the case presentation since they co-exist as comorbid conditions with PTSD.
Psychotherapy Treatment
The other psychotherapy treatment that may be considered for Joe is mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy. Mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy is a treatment that helps patients overcome pain, depression, anxiety and stress. It entails the use of interventions such as mindful awareness practice, meditation, and their application to real life. The therapy will help Joe to developing effective strategies to cope with triggers of PTSD (Bisson et al., 2020). Mindfulness-based stress reduction is not a gold-standard treatment for PTSD. Using gold standard evidence-based treatments is associated with enhanced benefits such as safety, quality, and efficacy. It also promotes the use of evidence-based interventions in the management of different psychiatric conditions.
Conclusion
In summary, PTSD has neurobiological basis. The case presentation in the video provides sufficient evidence to reach a diagnosis of PTSD. Mindfulness-based stress reduction is an alternative non-pharmacological treatment that may be considered for Joe. The use of gold standard, evidence-based treatments improve outcomes such as safety, quality, and efficiency in the treatment of mental health problems.
References
Bisson, J. I., van Gelderen, M., Roberts, N. P., & Lewis, C. (2020). Non-pharmacological and non-psychological approaches to the treatment of PTSD: Results of a systematic review and meta-analyses. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 11(1), 1795361. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1795361
Gerber, M. R. (2019). Trauma-Informed Healthcare Approaches: A Guide for Primary Care. Springer.
Harnett, N. G., Goodman, A. M., & Knight, D. C. (2020). PTSD-related neuroimaging abnormalities in brain function, structure, and biochemistry. Experimental Neurology, 330, 113331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2020.113331

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View the media Presentation Example: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and assess the client in the case study.

Grande, T. (2019, August 21). Presentation example: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Links to an external site. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkSv_zPH-M4

1–2 pages, address the following:

Briefly explain the neurobiological basis for PTSD illness.

Discuss the DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for PTSD and relate these criteria to the symptomology presented in the case study. Does the video case presentation provide sufficient information to derive a PTSD diagnosis? Justify your reasoning. Do you agree with the other diagnoses in the case presentation? Why or why not?

Discuss one other psychotherapy treatment option for the client in this case study. Explain whether your treatment option is considered a “gold standard treatment” from a clinical practice guideline perspective, and why using gold standard, evidence-based treatments from clinical practice guidelines is important for psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners.

Support your Assignment with specific examples from this week’s media and at least three peer-reviewed, evidence-based sources. Explain why each of your supporting sources is considered scholarly. Attach the PDFs of your sources.