News Can Watching Violent/scary Movies Cause Ptsd?

[saffy]

I think it can have some negative affects on certain people. Whether the content caused you to be traumatized or whether it leads to at trigger.

They put advertisements on tv because they are trying to influence you to buy or act or do a certain thing. Therefore there must be a correlation between tv and cause and affect by what ever means or commercial advertising would be pointless.

JMO :)

best wishes
Saffy :)

 

[a3a2]

Dr. Phil

I strongly believe "Dr. Phil" capitalizes on the illness of others. I wouldn't trust him to clean my toilet.

 

[Blondie362]

I strongly believe "Dr. Phil" capitalizes on the illness of others. I wouldn't trust him to clean my toilet.

can't bare that man.. another celebrity quack!!

 

[BlackbirdSinging]

I read somewhere that it's possible for a person to develop PTSD from witnessing someone else being traumatized. I have no clue on that since that's not how I got PTSD. But somehow I don't think it's possible to get PTSD from a FICTIONAL movie that you KNEW was fictional when you walked in and sat down to watch it. And didn't Dr. Phil co write a book or something on how to cure PTSD? But if scary movies gave people PTSD then everyone I know would have PTSD. And I'd have another source of trauma :facepalm:.

 

[anthony]

I read somewhere that it's possible for a person to develop PTSD from witnessing someone else being traumatized.

That is part of the criterion for a PTSD diagnosis. If you watched someone get killed in front of you, for example, that is sufficient if you met all the criterion. That is different from watching TV though, real or otherwise, as you're not a direct witness to the event, the event has already happened and you're watching an account of the event. Witness is the key versus viewing an account of the event later on. Severity of the event is also factored. If you're watching a live hostage scenario unfold, as an example, you would be a hypochondriac to cite you have PTSD because you witnessed others being held hostage in a band, when you couldn't even really see them or what was going on, but more you're a spectator to the event. Even if you heard gun shots in the bank, you aren't witnessing the event, you're hearing gun shots.

This is a distinction of diagnosis that many therapist toss out the door more and more today, because business is business.

 

[BlackbirdSinging]

That is part of the criterion for a PTSD diagnosis. If you watched someone get killed in front of you, for example, that is sufficient if you met all the criterion. That is different from watching TV though, real or otherwise, as you're not a direct witness to the event, the event has already happened and you're watching an account of the event.

I agree that there's really no disputing that watching someone be killed in front of you would be traumatizing.

As far as watching something on tv and having it affect you I know I was just about traumatized on September 11th. I wasn't there and I didn't live in New York. But my brother does and he worked on the top floor of tower 1. And seeing coverage on the news all day and not being able to reach him for a solid twenty four hours was awful to say the least. He's ok though by the way. But I wasn't able to reach him until the next day. So I was a mess until I was able to talk to him.

So basically I get it that you can see something on tv and have it affect you in some way. But I guess my question was can something fictional traumatize? I was thinking not but then I'm definitely not a professional and don't know all there is to know about PTSD the criterion and trauma.

 

[anthony]

Blackbird, don't beat yourself up. I can tell you now, there are therapists out there who do diagnose PTSD based on exactly what you've said. Their diagnosis is incorrect, but they do it nonetheless.

The problem is called, criterion creep. Basically, people are individuals, thus we all interpret differently. Psychology is no different to law, in that law uses precedent based on the intended intent. Psychology, whilst it uses the same, there still people who ignore the intended intent and instead opt for their meaning. Unfortunately, psychology is open wide for abuse and misuse as a result.

You've seen it here no doubt, as people have come here stating their therapist diagnosed them with PTSD from all sorts of things, none of which are abnormally traumatic events. These have ranged from relationship breakdowns to broken bones from slips and falls. This is criterion creep, where select therapists choose what they define as traumatic, then diagnose based on their interpretation and not the actual interpretation outlined in the text.

 

[Abstract]

Witness is the key versus

May I ask though Anthony - as far as I understand it hearing that a close friend or family member has died or been traumatised does fit the criteria does it not? Just attempting to understand the big picture here. Thanks!

 

[anthony]

Yes, though it has a precursor, being: learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or close friend; cases of actual or threatened death must have been violent or accidental.

A close friend is someone you see daily, several times per week, and have a close bond with near identical to that of family. Notice how it also says close family as well, which means a family member you have daily / several times weekly contact and a true bond and relationship with. Not a family member you see a few times a year and otherwise have little communication with. All those cases fall under the bereavement category for diagnosis, not PTSD.

People have typically less than 5 people in their life that would fit that category. Usually only one or two people. A partner and usually a very good friend or two, that you share all your secrets, they share theirs with you, so forth.

The mothers group you attend weekly is not considered close friends, as an example. Or the group of mother chatting away each morning as they drop their kids off. The same as people you work with... whilst you may see them daily, you aren't close friends with them to the point of knowing each others secrets and using each other for support and such.

Those less than 5 would fit into PTSD in the case of their death, if violent or accidental, the rest are bereavement.

 

[Springer80]

I wouldn't say cause....once I had ptsd, violent,scary movies would trigger my startle or dissociative responses and I'd find it distressing, cos well, once your actual life has been violent then violent films aren't the cheap thrill they are for most.