Lets Create A Ptsd Diagnosis - Off-topic Discussion

[joeylittle]

In terms of my original question about violence, I can understand that child sexual abuse is a violation (whether it is accompanied by threats or not) and that it's probably my perception of violence that is faulty.

I wanted to say yes, except probably it's not that your perception of violence is faulty, so much as you are reading it in the colloquial usage. But it can absolutely be assigned to any kind of sexual violation.

There is also an actual separate diagnosis for children under 6 versus over and adulthood.

And this part matters as well, because it addresses the uniqueness of what children can experience. The main thread isn't looking at that part of it yet. Sometimes I wonder if the age should be raised to 7 or 8, just in case. (I know you've likely left the subject, just was catching up with the thread and understood where you were coming from.)

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Avoidance of or efforts to avoid external stimuli such as places, conversations, activities, objects, and situations that arouse distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event(s).

Should people be included in that?

Like avoidance of people, places...

Or is the fear of people sort of just understood in that area?

Edited to add: maybe thats in the "distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings" now that i re-read it 10 million times?

 

[joeylittle]

Should people be included in that?

I think that people fit within 'situations'

 

[lostforgottensoul]

@joeylittle oh ok. I was thinking it fit somewhere but i couldnt place it. Thanks!

 

[digger]

There is also an actual separate diagnosis for children under 6 versus over and adulthood.

it addresses the uniqueness of what children can experience. The main thread isn't looking at that part of it yet. Sometimes I wonder if the age should be raised to 7 or 8, just in case

The way I'm reading this is that it's to be used to diagnose children of that age who are showing symptoms, rather than as a separate diagnosis for people who experienced trauma at that age - is that right?
It is an interesting distinction though of how trauma might be perceived differently at that age though.

 

[anthony]

it's to be used to diagnose children of that age who are showing symptoms

Correct.

 

[EveHarrington]

Sorry, I'm late so that's why I'm asking here in OT.


Criterion B5 doesn't sit well with me. I think that requiring 2 rather than 1 in the B category helps, but I'm still unsure.

I'm having a hard time visualizing this symptom as it seems to be in a lesser severity category (please don't get mad, I don't mean to offend!) That is, alone I don't know if it's enough for PTSD. (Again 2 vs 1 will fix this issue).

Maybe it's just me? Maybe I haven't experienced this symptom severely so I have a hard time seeing it as a (sole) PTSD qualifier in this category.

Thanks

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I read somatization differently - that it is psychological distress manifesting as physical symptoms

That's how I understood somatization when I google defined it.

If it helps any (I appologize if it doesnt, just want to help if i can) I have a lot of physical things that I had checked out by Drs and after all tests that could be ran its on my medical record as mental symptoms related to PTSD, which goes well beyond anxiety related symptoms.

I would def include it. Sorry if thats not helpful.

 

[anthony]

I'm having a hard time visualizing this symptom as it seems to be in a lesser severity category (please don't get mad, I don't mean to offend!)

Marked physiological reactions to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s).

This is the fight / flight / freeze symptom, pretty much a core symptom and reaction within PTSD sufferers.

 

[EveHarrington]

Marked physiological reactions to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the t...

Ohhh now I get it!

<Now I understand all too well why it takes so much training to diagnose. Understanding the nuances and exact meaning of criteria is much more involved than simply reading the DSM as a checklist!>

 

[anthony]

It is so good that cPTSD is going to be identified in 2017 there is no way that a single criterion A trauma which caused PTSD, can be compared to ongoing trauma and damaged belief systems that cPTSD can cause and that the abuse seems natural and the norm. I am not disputing that they are just as traumatic as the other but surely the treatment , medications and symptoms will be totally different and that they both cannot be encompassed in PTSD but a separate category as cPTSD and PTSD.

I've split my response from the primary thread to here, the off-topic, as this is not about cluster E.

I think we need wait and see what the ICD deliver. I believe, from my past research on this, I discovered and confirmed that they are actually producing an entire diagnosis, however, I don't know whether an entry criterion will be present or not, like PTSD, and I don't know whether they put it under a personality disorder or not. It will be interesting to see how they do it.

PTSD is not for single trauma though, and that is a misconception. Criterion A requires that only one trauma that meets it be experienced, it does not at any stage discount your entire trauma experience or history, whether singular, multiple or complex. The problem as I see and understand it, is that PTSD by itself does not adequately cover the symptom spectrum for complex trauma histories. Complex trauma can be a single type of event, but repeated, thus making it complex, i.e. a parental figure coming into the bed of a child most nights having sex with them. Same thing, just repeated over and over. The outcome for that person produces far more complex symptoms, especially in regulation. It destroys trust, parental and/or authoritative relationships and much more.

 

[oasis2003]

Yes it will be interesting to see what they come up with ...... For cPTSD.