Research Paper
Although the thought of PTSD was very controversial when it was first talked about, the
diagnosis ended up filling a very important gap in the psychiatric theory and practice in 1980.
Before PTSD was ever officially a medical condition, people were very skeptical of the validity of
the illness until 1980 when the American Psychiatric Association added PTSD to the third
edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III). The observation
that experiencing a traumatic event can lead to dozens of different symptoms is not new. During
the Civil War, a disorder similar to PTSD was called the ‘Da Costa's Syndrome’ from the
American internist Jacob Mendez Da Costa (1833–1900; Civil War duty: military hospital in
Philadelphia).
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is an anxiety disorder that can develop in the
hippocampus, amygdala, and medial prefrontal cortex of the brain when the individual
experiences, or witnessed a traumatic event. Many people misinterpret what a traumatic event
it. Although things such as a loved one's death, or a divorce can seem very traumatic, it is not
considered a ‘traumatic event’ which could lead to PTSD. A traumatic event that could cause
PTSD are things such as war, natural disasters such as tornadoes tsunamis, and earthquakes,
accidents, physical/sexual assault, or terrorist incidents. Not all, but most people who
experience/witness something traumatic, return to normal after a short amount of time. For
those who don’t may notice that their stress reactions aren’t going away, and that it’s getting
worse over time. This most likely means that PTSD is developing.
PTSD develops when someone is responding to a traumatic event. Anyone can
experience a traumatic event, in fact, about 60 percent of men, and percent of women
experience one or more traumatic events in a lifetime. If an individual experiences a traumatic
event, and is having some of the symptoms of PTSD, it does not mean that PTSD has developed.
Although PTSD is very common, and there are more than 3 million cases per year, not everyone
who has symptoms of PTSD is actually diagnosed with it. There are several different things that can
contribute to how a person reacts to a traumatic stressor. Researchers and theoreticians have discovered
different factors can determine individuals who will probably create PTSD when presented to a
catastrophic event. Some of these factors have to do with their mental health history, their families'
history of psychological problem, age, gender, biological makeup, social network, and their accessibility
to mental health treatment facilities. An individual with lots of support from friends/family before and
after the traumatic occasion is probably going to have a positive effect after the trauma than an individual
who doesn’t have support. A few studies on heritability of a person with a small hereditary component
contributes to increase their chances of exposure to trauma. "For exampl...
