Week 9: Trauma and Stress-Related Disorders

 

Trauma from war and from other types of disasters and everyday life events are grouped together in the DSM-5 as trauma and stressor-related disorders. It is important to remember that trauma responses can take many other diagnostic forms besides the well-known posttraumatic stress disorder. Such responses include, but are not limited to, dissociative disorder, anxiety, and depression.

 

This week you analyze evidence-based interventions for trauma and stressor-related issues. You also analyze the role social work and social workers play in addressing traumatic events. Finally, you consult on a trauma case when recommending an evidence-based treatment plan.

 

Learning Objectives

 

Students will:

 

· Analyze evidence-based interventions for trauma and stressor-related issues

 

· Analyze a case study focused on a trauma and stress-related disorder utilizing steps of differential diagnosis

 

· Assess a treatment plan within a case study

 

· Create a treatment plan based on a case study

 

Learning Resources

 

Required Readings

 

American Psychiatric Association. (2013s). Trauma- and stressor-related disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: Author. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.dsm07

 

American Psychiatric Association. (2013g). Dissociative disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: Author. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.dsm08

 

Powers, A., Fani, N., Cross, D., Ressler, K. J., & Bradley, B. (2016). Childhood trauma, PTSD, and psychosis: Findings from a highly traumatized, minority sample. Child Abuse & Neglect, 58, 111–118.

 

Schnyder, U., Ehlers, A., Elbert, T., Foa, E. B., Gersons, B. P. R., Resick, P. A., … Cloitre, M. (2015). Psychotherapies for PTSD: What do they have in common? European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 6(1), 281–286. doi:10.3402/ejpt.v6.28186

 

Smith, J. C., Hyman, S. M., Andres-Hyman, R. C., Ruiz, J. J., & Davidson, L. (2016). Applying recovery principles to the treatment of trauma. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 47(5), 347–355. doi:10.1037/pro0000105

 

Required Media

 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2017). PE—Prolonged exposure: A safe place. Retrieved from https://www.ptsd.va.gov/apps/AboutFace/therapies/pe.html

 

 

 

Note: On this page, watch the following videos about veteran Frederick M. Gantt’s experience with prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD.

 

· “I had to make a decision”

 

· “What am I running from?”

 

· “I could see it in color”

 

· “The Middle Eastern restaurant”

 

· “I’m in a safe place”

 

Optional Resources

 

American Psychiatric Association. (2013m). Other conditions that may be a focus of clinical attention. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: Author. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.VandZcodes

 

Goral, A., Lahad, M., & Aharonson-Daniel, L. (2017). Differences in posttraumatic stress characteristics by duration of exposure to trauma. Psychiatry Research, 258, 101–107. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2017.09.079

 

Maercker, A., & Hecker, T. (2016). Broadening perspectives on trauma and recovery: A socio-interpersonal view of PTSD. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 7(1), 1–9. doi:10.3402/ejpt.v7.29303

 

McHugh, R. K., Gratz, K. L., & Tull, M. T. (2017). The role of anxiety sensitivity in reactivity to trauma cues in treatment-seeking adults with substance use disorders. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 78, 107–114. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.07.011

 

van der Kolk, B., & Najavits, L. M. (2013). Interview: What is PTSD really? Surprises, twists of history, and the politics of diagnosis and treatment. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69(5), 516–522. doi:10.1002/jclp.21992

 

Document: Suggested Further Reading for SOCW 6090 (PDF)

 

 

 

Note: This is the same document introduced in Week 1.

 

Optional Media

 

University at Buffalo School of Social Work (Producer). (2014b). Episode 141— Tara Hughes: Disaster mental health: An emerging social work practice [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from http://www.insocialwork.org/episode.asp?ep=141

 

University at Buffalo School of Social Work (Producer). (2015). Episode 180—Dr. Howard Lipke: HEArt for veterans: Identifying the hidden emotion [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from http://www.insocialwork.org/episode.asp?ep=180