While POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER itself is estimated to occur in 8% of the population, the prevalence rates increase dramatically in persons suffering from other mental disorders. Approximately 80% of people who suffer with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder suffer from an additional co-occurring disorder. There is a direct relationship between individuals who have previous disorders, developing PTSD in response to a traumatic event. Comorbidity is associated with worse prognosis, more severe symptoms, and lower social competence. Various factors such as parental history, the quality of parenting, peer influences and stressful life events factor into comorbidity. Additional factors that effect comorbidity is the individual’s age, gender and the
…show more content…
Diagnosing and treating POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER _____ is often difficult due to the symptoms of PSTD overlapping the symptoms of other comorbid disorders. While the symptoms of POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER vary by age, the symptoms become more apparent as the individual ages. For example, children under the age of 6 may get upset if their parents are not close by, have trouble sleeping or act out the trauma through play. Similarly, children age 7-11 may act of the trauma in play, drawings or stories, have nightmares, or become more irritable or aggressive. Children ranging from the age of 12-18 began to develop symptoms similar to adults such as depression, anxiety, withdrawal, or reckless behavior, which often leads to substance abuse. (CITE ABRAM). While it is unclear whether POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER increases the vulnerability to other disorders or whether there are common genetic or environmental factors, researchers have found the comorbid disorders have an adverse impact on the prognosis and treatment of individuals with POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. It is important to diagnose and implement treatment for PTSD early in childhood as the effects of PTSD often lead to other comorbid …show more content…
Approximately half of the people who suffer from POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER also suffer from major depressive disorder. As previously mentioned, a major reason for comorbidity of POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER and MDD are due to both disorders having common symptoms. According to the DSM-V both disorders have common symptoms in categories such as anhedonia, sleep disturbance, and concentration difficulties. Individuals who respond to challenges and trauma exposure with negative affect are more vulnerable to develop both disorders. Individuals who suffer from both disorders show greater social, and cognitive impairment, report higher levels of distress and are more likely turn to substance abuse or suicide. Treatment of POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER and _____ disorders are extremely difficult as assisting the individual with overcoming the traumatic event, they experienced, may lead to avoidance and eventual dropouts from treatment. The same difficulty can be applied to other internalized disorders such as anxiety, _____, and
Diagnosing and treating POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER _____ is often difficult due to the symptoms of PSTD overlapping the symptoms of other comorbid disorders. While the symptoms of POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER vary by age, the symptoms become more apparent as the individual ages. For example, children under the age of 6 may get upset if their parents are not close by, have trouble sleeping or act out the trauma through play. Similarly, children age 7-11 may act of the trauma in play, drawings or stories, have nightmares, or become more irritable or aggressive. Children ranging from the age of 12-18 began to develop symptoms similar to adults such as depression, anxiety, withdrawal, or reckless behavior, which often leads to substance abuse. (CITE ABRAM). While it is unclear whether POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER increases the vulnerability to other disorders or whether there are common genetic or environmental factors, researchers have found the comorbid disorders have an adverse impact on the prognosis and treatment of individuals with POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. It is important to diagnose and implement treatment for PTSD early in childhood as the effects of PTSD often lead to other comorbid …show more content…
Approximately half of the people who suffer from POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER also suffer from major depressive disorder. As previously mentioned, a major reason for comorbidity of POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER and MDD are due to both disorders having common symptoms. According to the DSM-V both disorders have common symptoms in categories such as anhedonia, sleep disturbance, and concentration difficulties. Individuals who respond to challenges and trauma exposure with negative affect are more vulnerable to develop both disorders. Individuals who suffer from both disorders show greater social, and cognitive impairment, report higher levels of distress and are more likely turn to substance abuse or suicide. Treatment of POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER and _____ disorders are extremely difficult as assisting the individual with overcoming the traumatic event, they experienced, may lead to avoidance and eventual dropouts from treatment. The same difficulty can be applied to other internalized disorders such as anxiety, _____, and