PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Malibu Horizon treats clients with PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and an alcohol or substance abuse problem
Dr. Dean Kilpatrick, Director of the Medical University of South Carolina's National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center, presented information on the use of a telephone survey to assess the prevalence of child and adult victimization experiences and the extent to which victimization increases risk for PTSD and substance use disorders.
PTSD and Risk of Substance Abuse
Three federally-funded studies which used the Victimization Survey Method and other models to collect data from the general public on exposure to traumatic events and substance use. Dr. Kilpatrick explained that the risk of PTSD, depression, and substance abuse increases with the number of traumatic events experienced by an individual.7 8 He concluded by stating that individuals who have mental disorders, such as PTSD or depression, are at increased risk for substance abuse. Additional information on this research can be found at http://www.drugabuse.gov/PDF/DARHW/285-308_Kilpatrick.pdf.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD
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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops after a terrifying ordeal that involved physical harm or the threat of physical harm. The person who develops PTSD may have been the one who was harmed, the harm may have happened to a loved one, or the person may have witnessed a harmful event that happened to loved ones or strangers. |
Watch video on PTSD |
Background
PTSD was first brought to public attention in relation to war veterans, but it can result from a variety of traumatic incidents, such as mugging, rape, torture, being kidnapped or held captive, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, or natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes.
Symptoms of PTSD
People with PTSD may startle easily, become emotionally numb (especially in relation to people with whom they used to be close), lose interest in things they used to enjoy, have trouble feeling affectionate, be irritable, become more aggressive, or even become violent. They avoid situations that remind them of the original incident, and anniversaries of the incident are often very difficult. PTSD symptoms seem to be worse if the event that triggered them was deliberately initiated by another person, as in a mugging or a kidnapping.
Most people with PTSD repeatedly relive the trauma in their thoughts during the day and in nightmares when they sleep. These are called flashbacks. Flashbacks may consist of images, sounds, smells, or feelings, and are often triggered by ordinary occurrences, such as a door slamming or a car backfiring on the street. A person having a flashback may lose touch with reality and believe that the traumatic incident is happening all over again.
Not every traumatized person develops full-blown or even minor PTSD. Symptoms usually begin within 3 months of the incident but occasionally emerge years afterward. They must last more than a month to be considered PTSD. The course of the illness varies. Some people recover within 6 months, while others have symptoms that last much longer. In some people, the condition becomes chronic.
PTSD - Statistics
PTSD affects about 7.7 million American adults,1but it can occur at any age, including childhood.7 Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men,8 and there is some evidence that susceptibility to the disorder may run in families.9 PTSD is often accompanied by depression, substance abuse, or one or more of the other anxiety disorders.4
Treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Certain kinds of medication and psychotherapy usually treat the symptoms of PTSD very effectively.
Non Liability for Professional Services
All patients and their doctors have individual treatment agreements for services rendered. All doctors of medicine furnishings services to clients at Malibu Horizon are independent consultants, not employees or agents.
