How should we interpret the Traumatic Experiences scale? What is its relation to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Right now we do not know the relation of Traumatic Experiences scores to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. But we can offer the following guidance. PTSD is defined in part by (a) exposure to potentially traumatizing experiences, and in part by (b) the presence of various symptoms suggested as a reaction to trauma, such as numbing and feelings of detachment, recurrent memories or dreams of the experience, and emotional arousal problems (like difficulty falling asleep or outbursts of anger). [See pp. 427-428 of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.] Presuming that youths are reporting truthfully, it would be very unusual for youths who score 0 on the Traumatic Experiences scale to have PTSD, because PTSD requires exposure to a potentially traumatizing event. On the other hand, we cannot assume that youths who have scores of 1 to 5 on the scale have PTSD even if they have relatively high scores. Many youths exposed to traumatizing experiences do not develop the various
Related Questions
- What if I was not physically injured but am suffering emotional trauma such as anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), flashbacks or depression?
- What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and who is most susceptible to it? How is it different from routine combat stress?
- What is the definition for post traumatic stress disorder?
