The self rating inventory for post-traumatic stress disorder may aid diagnosis among older people in the community

Background. In post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) there is a need for self-rating scales that are sensitive to treatment effects and have been tested in a broad range of trauma survivors. Separate measures of frequency and severity may also provide an advantage.Methods. Three hundred and fifty-three men and women completed the Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS), a 17-item scale measuring each DSM-IV symptom of PTSD on 5-point frequency and severity scales. These subjects comprised war veterans, survivors of rape or hurricane and a mixed trauma group participating in a clinical trial. Other scales were included as validity checks as follows: Global ratings, SCL-90-R, Eysenck Scale, Impact of Event Scale and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R.Results. The scale demonstrated good test–retest reliability (r = 0·86), internal consistency (r = 0·99). One main factor emerged for severity and a smaller one for intrusion. In PTSD diagnosed subjects, and the factor structure more closely resembled the traditional grouping of symptoms. Concurrent validity was obtained against the SCID, with a diagnostic accuracy of 83% at a DTS score of 40. Good convergent and divergent validity was obtained. The DTS showed predictive validity against response to treatment, as well as being sensitive to treatment effects.Conclusions. The DTS showed good reliability and validity, and offers promised as a scale which is particularly suited to assessing symptom severity, treatment outcome and in screening for the likely diagnosis of PTSD.

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Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Middle Age and Beyond

The Senior Care Pharmacist ◽

10.4140/tcp.n.2021.191 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 36 (4) ◽

pp. 191-206

Author(s):

Leisa L. Marshall ◽

Renée L. Hayslett

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Stress Disorders ◽

Pharmacologic Therapy ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Line Therapy ◽

Post Traumatic

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical manifestations and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults and older people. DATA SOURCES: Articles indexed in PubMed, Embase, psychology databases, and the Cochrane library over the past 10 years using the key words "post-traumatic stress disorder," "stress disorders," and "post-traumatic stress disorder and treatment." STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Sixty-seven publications were reviewed and criteria supporting the primary objective were used to identify useful resources. DATA SYNTHESIS: The literature included practice guidelines; review articles; original research articles; and product prescribing information for the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD. CONCLUSION: Psychotherapy is the first-line therapy for PTSD. Pharmacologic therapy is recommended, as second-line therapy, for adults living with PTSD who do not have access to psychotherapy or refuse psychotherapy. Pharmacologic therapy may also be considered in cases of partial, or no, response to psychotherapy. Current guidelines recommend prescribing one of 3 selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, either fluoxetine, paroxetine, or sertraline, or prescribing the serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine, for adult patients who do not have access to psychotherapy or prefer not to use psychotherapy. Unfortunately, these recommended medications have additional cautions for use in older people so may not be appropriate for many older people living with PTSD. Therapy for older people should be tailored to patient-specific symptoms, with careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks of the therapy and coexisting medical conditions of each patient.

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Alterations in the Three Components of Selfhood in Persons with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: A Pilot qEEG Neuroimaging Study

The Open Neuroimaging Journal ◽

10.2174/1874440001812010042 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 42-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andrew A. Fingelkurts ◽

Alexander A. Fingelkurts

Keyword(s):

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Theoretical Perspective ◽

The Self ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Left Posterior ◽

Post Traumatic

Background and Objective:Understanding how trauma impacts the self-structure of individuals suffering from the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms is a complex matter and despite several attempts to explain the relationship between trauma and the “Self”, this issue still lacks clarity. Therefore, adopting a new theoretical perspective may help understand PTSD deeper and to shed light on the underlying psychophysiological mechanisms.Methods:In this study, we employed the “three-dimensional construct model of the experiential selfhood” where three major components of selfhood (phenomenal first-person agency, embodiment, and reflection/narration) are related to three Operational Modules (OMs) of the self-referential brain network. These modules can be reliably estimated through operational synchrony analysis of the Electroencephalogram (EEG). Six individuals with PTSD symptoms and twenty-nine sex-, age- and demographic- (race, education, marital status) matched healthy controls underwent resting state EEG signal acquisition with the following estimation of the synchrony strength within every OM.Results:Our results indicate that subjects with PTSD symptoms had significantly stronger EEG operational synchrony within anterior and right posterior OMs as well as significantly weaker EEG operational synchrony within left posterior OM compared to healthy controls. Moreover, increased the functional integrity of the anterior OM was positively associated with hyperactivity symptoms, reduced synchrony of the left posterior OM was associated with greater avoidance, and increased right posterior OM integrity was positively correlated with intrusion and mood symptoms.Conclusion:The results are interpreted in light of the triad model of selfhood and its theoretical and clinical implications (including a new treatment approach) are discussed.

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