1. Kisha Adderley IT 2010, Georgia State University April 8, 2013

2. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe type of anxiety. It may be seen in war veterans, survivors of physical and sexual assault in addition to many others. It tends to develop in some people after an event that resulted in psychological trauma, physical trauma or a combination of both (combat, crime, involvement in an accident, disaster).

3. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) 3.5% of the US adult population is affected by PTSD. 36.6% of these cases; approximately 1.3% of the U.S. adult population is classified as severe where they have trouble working or socializing. The average age-of-onset is about 23-years old.

4. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), symptoms of PTSD encompass three main categories: Re-experiencing is marked by reliving the trauma with nightmares and upsetting thoughts. Avoidance of the stimuli includes evading certain thought or talking about the event. Hyper-arousal is defined as an “excessive arousal” or an active startle response. This heightened state may also cause problems with sleeping and eating.

5. Tools available for the detection of PTSD: The Post-traumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS) The Beck Anxiety Inventory - Primary Care (BAI-PC) The PTSD Checklist (PCL) The Primary Care PTSD Screen (PC-PTSD) People who have positive screening results with these assessments should then be evaluated with a structured interview and monitored closely by a specialist.

6. If a problem is identified, the main treatments for individuals with PTSD are psychotherapy, medications, or both. Psychotherapy involves speaking with a mental health professional. It is a way to treat patients by helping them understand their disorder. Approved medications for the treatment of adults with PTSD include Antidepressants such as Zoloft and Paxil. They may be useful to control PTSD symptoms such as sadness, worry, anger, and feeling numb inside.

7. Mental illnesses have a major impact on those directly affected and everyone in their lives. When they are left without treatment, the consequences can be severe so early detection and treatment is vital to prevent escalation and lead to better outcomes.

8. American Psychological Association (2011). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/topics/ptsd/index.aspx Dunphy, L.M., & Winland-Brown, J.E. (2011). Primary care: The art and sciences of advanced practice nursing. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company (p 1024). Hyperarousal. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.merriam webster.com/medical/hyperarousal Jaffe, S., & Schub, T. (2012). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Cinahl Information Systems. National Institute of Mental Health (2010). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml United States Department of Veterans Affairs (2007). PTSD History and Overview. Retrieved from http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/pages/ptsd-overview.asp Wisco, B., Marx, B., & Keane, T. (2012). Screening, diagnosis, and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Military Medicine, 177(8 Suppl), 7-13. World Health Organization (2010). Mental health: strengthening our response. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs220/en/