Assignment: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
To prepare:
- Review this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on the insights they provide about diagnosing and treating PTSD.
- View the media Presentation Example: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and assess the client in the case study.
- For guidance on assessing the client, refer to Chapter 3 of the Wheeler text.
Note: To complete this Assignment, you must assess the client, but you are not required to submit a formal comprehensive client assessment.
The Assignment
Succinctly, in 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.
Assignment: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
To prepare:
- Review this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on the insights they provide about diagnosing and treating PTSD.
- View the media Presentation Example: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and assess the client in the case study.
- For guidance on assessing the client, refer to Chapter 3 of the Wheeler text.
Note: To complete this Assignment, you must assess the client, but you are not required to submit a formal comprehensive client assessment.
The Assignment
Succinctly, in 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.
Videos to watch for the assignment:
https://video-alexanderstreet-com.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/watch/ptsd-and-veterans-a-conversation-with-dr-frank-ochberg
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, commonly known as PTSD, is a mental health disorder that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. The disorder can severely impact a person’s life, and it is crucial to understand the neurobiological basis, diagnostic criteria, and treatment options for PTSD.
1. Briefly explain the neurobiological basis for PTSD illness.
The neurobiological basis for PTSD is related to changes in the nervous system, particularly in the brain’s structure and function. The amygdala, which is responsible for processing emotions, plays a significant role in PTSD. In individuals with PTSD, the amygdala becomes overactive, leading to an exaggerated fear response. Additionally, the prefrontal cortex, which regulates emotional responses, becomes less active, making it difficult for individuals with PTSD to regulate their emotions.
2. 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?
The DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for PTSD include exposure to a traumatic event, re-experiencing symptoms, avoidance and numbing symptoms, and hyperarousal symptoms. The video case presentation provides enough information to derive a PTSD diagnosis as the client presents with many of the symptoms, such as nightmares, difficulty sleeping, and hypervigilance.
The other diagnoses in the presentation, such as anxiety and depression, seem to align with PTSD, often co-occurring with the disorder. Therefore, it is reasonable to consider a comorbidity between the disorders; however, PTSD should be the primary diagnosis as it aligns well with the presented symptoms.
3. 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.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that is considered a “gold standard treatment” for PTSD. CPT is based on the idea that individuals with PTSD have inaccurate and negative beliefs about themselves and their surroundings, leading to negative emotions and behaviors. The goal of CPT is to help the client identify and challenge these negative beliefs, replacing them with more positive ones.
Using gold standard, evidence-based treatments from clinical practice guidelines is essential for psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners because it helps ensure that patients receive the most effective treatments available. It is essential to base treatment decisions on evidence-based research as it provides the best chance of a favorable outcome for the patient. In addition, using evidence-based treatments helps ensure that treatment is standardized and consistent, leading to better quality of care.
