Media Representation Of Ptsd

[Happy Head]

That's a great way to sum it up! And if you take the actual re-wiring of the brain during a traumatic event(s) it's a physical change - damage.

 

[grey eyes]

I understand you cant inherit PTSD but (just a question) if the mother with PTSD whos brain is damaged has a child , would the damage then create damage inthe childs brain ?

 

[Queen Boudica]

Don't think so. That brain damage is not genetically coded it is not in the mother's genes. The child inherits genes that determine the child's brain structure and it is not the genes that are damaged.

 

[anthony]

This makes sense to me.

Why?

You can inherit an anxiety disorder.
You can inherit bipolar disorder.
You can inherit schizophrenia.
You can inherit ADD/ADHD.

However, you CANNOT inherit PTSD.

(All genetically speaking that is.)

Actually, that is incorrect. PTSD is an anxiety disorder, and you clearly stated you can inherit it. What you can inherit of PTSD is the anxiety and other components. There are pre-dispositions to PTSD in genetics with the symptoms. Even though the APA are moving it out into a trauma category, that still doesn't remove genetic inheritance of primary symptoms... all just waiting for a trauma of significance to occur allowing PTSD to develop.

The US VA would love to change PTSD into anything other than what it is, because they don't have the same legal commitments then to the primary disorder costing them a lot of money, compared to their limited services offered for other health issues as a result of war service.

PTSD is considered equal to losing a limb. TBI, being a physical problem, is not... hence they are not committed to support those with TBI as much as those with PTSD, even though a person can suffer TBI and mimick PTSD symptoms the rest of their life as a result of TBI... the VA legally get to wipe their hands with the person and move on.

It really doesn't matter what the US VA say though, as they do not get to dictate what psychiatry is to the psychiatric community... they're just the largest common group right now who PTSD is killing financially.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

TECHNICALLY you can't inherit PTSD as written in the dsm as PTSD is the ONLY "mental" disorder that by definition requires a triggering occurrence. (If I'm wrong, please tell me how you genetically inherit trauma...)

GAD can be triggered, or, inherited.
Bipolar can be triggered, or, inherited.
Schizophrenia can be triggered, or inherited.
PTSD can only be triggered in the sense that you can't "inherit" a traumatic event, the first criteria for being dx with PTSD. In the absence of a traumatic event, you can only have GAD.

 

[anthony]

Playing on words, the term PTSD, no... all the components of PTSD, yes, they can be inherited through genetics. So yes, TECHNICALLY, you are correct when relating to hierarchy.

There are actual people who would meet the criteria for PTSD with symptoms, but not be able to have the diagnosis based on they are missing the abnormally traumatic event. Saying that though... psychologists, counsellors and such, with backyard diagnosis, are fitting those people into it any way they can.

Genetics are tricky... as even anxiety can cross into a behaviour, which can be changed, yet also be genetic. Like chewing nails is a sign of anxiety, yet a person with no anxiety at all may chew their nails through behaviour. One event in their life, suddenly they have PTSD because genetically they are susceptible to anxiety and other symptoms of PTSD... even though the event itself didn't cause those symptoms, genetically they had them already, or a majority.

Tricky subject actually with the way PTSD is evolving in the DSM... especially when you now have cases coming forward being diagnosed with PTSD, with statements such that their mother was raped when they were in the womb, and they now have tissue memories triggering nightmares and such... and such people have been diagnosed with PTSD, even though I personally completely disagree with that, though psychiatrists have done that under a few cases I've read, as they technically did endure the trauma, but they inherited the memories from the mother to baby and stored them.

Again though, I don't believe such a diagnosis should be given to such cases, as they could have been coerced by the parent, transference from the parent who has PTSD and raised the child from birth with PTSD.... that is by definition a classic case of PTSD by genetics. From the womb, continued through transference of the paternal relationship, then into a PTSD diagnosis... yet having the memories of the mother being raped when they were in the womb!

Weird and wonderful stuff going on with diagnoses. Again though... I don't agree with this information, but I have read such cases.

With PTSD shifting out to a trauma category... I would say, "Watch This Space!" Things will get interesting with the mental health business of diagnosing.