PTSD Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms

A mental health condition characterized by emotional and behavioral symptoms following a stressful event. It differs from PTSD in severity and duration of symptoms.

The study of the causes of PTSD, including environmental, social, and biological factors.

Factors that increase the likelihood of developing PTSD, such as the severity and duration of the trauma, and proximity to the event.

The degree to which genetics contribute to the development of PTSD. Studies have shown a heritability of 0.30 in war veterans, suggesting that genetics play a role.

A brain structure involved in memory and spatial navigation. Studies have shown that people with PTSD often have a smaller hippocampus, potentially due to stress-related hormone exposure.

A brain region that plays a role in processing emotions, especially fear. In PTSD, the amygdala can become overactive, leading to exaggerated fear responses.

A brain area involved in regulating emotional responses and controlling impulsive behavior. It helps to suppress the amygdala's activity. In PTSD, the mPFC may be less active, leading to difficulty controlling fear reactions.

The theory that traumatic experiences create strong, unique memories that can be triggered by related cues and change how the individual views the world.

This theory explains how fear responses are learned, stored, and triggered.

A specific state of mind where an individual feels powerless and unable to cope with their trauma, seeing themselves as a victim.

Individuals with Mental Defeat tend to process all information about the trauma negatively and view themselves as incapable of defending themselves.

A negative approach to the trauma and its consequences can lead to maladaptive behaviors and cognitive strategies that maintain the disorder.

Individuals with Mental Defeat often have difficulty integrating the trauma into their autobiographical knowledge, leading to symptoms like reliving the event and dissociation.

Emotional Processing Theory helps explain how trauma changes beliefs about safety and elicits strong fear responses.

Individuals with fixed views of themselves and the world prior to trauma are more susceptible to PTSD.

Therapeutic approaches based on Emotional Processing Theory aim to modify the fear network shaped by trauma.

A perception that a situation is dangerous or threatening, even if objectively it might not be. It often triggers anxiety responses and can contribute to the development of PTSD.

Experiences of flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts that bring back memories of the traumatic event.

An individual's subjective feeling of being unable to control their responses to internal or external stimuli. This can heighten the perceived danger of a situation and contribute to PTSD.

A mental health condition characterized by intrusive memories, avoidance behaviors, negative thoughts and feelings, and alterations in mood and reactivity following a traumatic event.

A mental health condition characterized by persistent anxiety, fear, and worry even when there is no immediate threat.

The degree to which someone experiences physical and psychological symptoms of anxiety such as racing heart, trembling, and dizziness.

A measure of individual differences in the levels of negative interpretation or appraisals associated with PTSD symptoms. People with higher negative appraisals may have more difficulty coping with PTSD symptoms.

A pattern of emotional and behavioral responses to stressful events that include feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and unable to cope.

A factor that plays a significant role in PTSD. It can come from internal sources (thoughts, feelings) or external sources (environment, social situations) and is a key predictor of PTSD severity.

The difference in ratings of perceived danger between scenarios with and without information on anxiety or intrusions. It indicates the extent to which these factors influence people's perception of danger.

MDMA-assisted psychotherapy has been shown to be a breakthrough therapy for PTSD. It works by reducing fear responses to anxiety-provoking stimuli, including past trauma, and enhancing introspection and interpersonal trust.

MDMA increases oxytocin levels, a hormone associated with trust and bonding. This may contribute to the improved interpersonal trust observed in MDMA-assisted therapy.

A single dose of MDMA in mice reopens the critical period for social reward learning, which requires activation of oxytocin receptors in the nucleus accumbens. This suggests that MDMA can have lasting effects on how the brain processes social interactions.

MDMA-assisted psychotherapy involves multiple sessions, including preparatory sessions before and integrative therapy sessions after each MDMA session. These sessions are conducted in a clinical but aesthetically pleasing setting with two therapists guiding the patient through an introspective process.

MDMA-assisted therapy increases openness to new experiences, which plays a moderating role in reducing PTSD symptoms. This suggests that a shift in personality traits may be important for long-term healing from PTSD.

A psychological phenomenon where individuals with PTSD experience increased perceived danger when intrusions (e.g., flashbacks, nightmares) are present in a situation.

Psychological interventions that aim to help individuals with PTSD confront and process traumatic memories in a safe and controlled environment.

The tendency to allow distressing intrusions to influence judgments about danger.

A mental health condition characterized by persistent and intense distress following a traumatic event. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, and emotional numbness.