Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Brien Roche
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Is Often Seen With Brain Injury From Trauma
Post-traumatic stress disorder is defined in the DSM of Mental Disorders. It is a complex, varying psychological and biological response. The response is to an acute stressor, experienced directly or indirectly. Or it may be a response to chronic stress. PTSD often appears in personal injury lawsuits. Call, or contact us for a free consult.
Elements
Furthermore the precise elements of PTSD are:
- A stressor or event that involved actual or threatened death. Or it may involve serious injury or threat to the body of oneself or others.
- In addition the victim then re-experiences the event in at least one of the ways set forth below.
- Memory of the event that is repeated and distressing.
- Recurring stressful dreams of the event.
- Flashbacks to the event that make it seem as if it is recurring.
- Intense stress at certain cues that are like some aspect of the event.
- Finally a bodily reaction.
In addition there must be persistent attempts to avoid the factors related to the stressor and a numbing of the victim’s response as indicated by:
- Efforts to avoid anything related to the trauma.
- Not being able to recall important aspects of the trauma.
- Greatly reduced interest in life or being involved in things once of interest.
- Feelings of detachment.
- Also limitation on range of affect.
- Finally a sense of a shortened future.
Symptoms
Also the person must have at least two of the symptoms below that were not present before the trauma.
- Trouble sleeping or staying asleep.
- Irritability or outburst of anger.
- Trouble focusing.
- Hypervigilance.
- Finally an exaggerated startle response.
In addition after the event the victim may appear calm and not affected. This may last for several days. Also the condition may well be masked by denial. It may then show itself many days later. Call, or contact us for a free consult.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – Testimony
Questions may arise as to whether or not psychologists can testify as to this condition. Clearly they can testify as to the diagnosis of PTSD. In the case of John v. Im, 263 Va. 315, 322 (2002), the court noted that only a medical doctor may give an expert opinion about the cause of a physical human injury such as a traumatic brain injury. PTSD however is a mental or emotional disorder. Traumatic brain injury is a medical condition. As such a Licensed Clinical Psychologist should be able to testify as to not only the diagnosis but also causation. An order of March 21, 2023 from the Norfolk Circuit Court in the case of Justice v. Giesinger confirms that.
Minors
Whenever you’re dealing with minors, you need to keep in mind that much of what you know about adults may not apply to them.
The DSM has a whole diagnostic section devoted to PTSD in children 6 and under.
Here’s is a good overview and potential reliable authority from Stanford, including this gem: “PTSD in children often becomes a long-term (chronic) problem.”:
If you have been exposed to an event that produced PTSD, contact us. See also the pages on Wikipedia. Also check on this site for more information and see the posts on brain injury.