Author Question: Which assessment finding exhibited by a patient being assessed for posttraumatic stress disorder ... (Read 59 times)

Marty · **on:** Jul 19, 2018

Which assessment finding exhibited by a patient being assessed for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) would be considered a defining behavior and support such a diagnosis?

a. Can describe the attack in great detail
b. Experiences dramatic swings in affect
c. Describes vivid flashbacks of being attacked
d. Is preoccupied with the need to tell someone about the attack

Question 2

What is the basis for assessing a male patient who is agoraphobic for panic attacks?

a. Men are more likely to experience panic attacks.
b. An overwhelming number of agoraphobic patients also have panic attacks.
c. Patients are often unaware that the symptoms they are experiencing are those of panic.
d. Panic attacks are generally the cause of a patient developing phobias like agora-phobia.

zacnyjessica · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 19, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
One defining behavior that is seen when an individual has PTSD is that the person re-experiences the traumatic event. This takes place by having recurrent and intrusive dis-turbing recollections of the trauma, including thoughts, images, or perceptions about the in-cident. The person sometimes experiences recurrent dreams of the incident and acts or feels as though the event was recurring in the present (flashback). Generally the PTSD patient cannot remember all the details of the trauma nor are they particularly interested in re-telling the events of the trauma. The patient generally has a very limited range of affect.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Almost all patients who present with agoraphobia in clinical samples have a current diagnosis or history of panic disorder. Males are not more likely than females to experience panic at-tacks. Patients are not usually unaware of panic attack symptoms. Panic attacks don't cause, but are often triggered by, phobias.