1
PYC4802 - Psychopathology Articles
Summarized
THEME 2: TRAUMA AND STRESSOR RELATED DISORDERS
ARTICLES
AVERILL – POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN OLDER ADULTS: A CONCEPTUAL REVIEW
— This review – 1) Summarize and integrate the extant literature on PTSD in older adults; 2) To
spotlight special concerns that are involved in understanding PTSD in older adults; 3) To set the stage
for future research in the relatively neglected area.
— Initiated by exposure to extraordinarily stressful life events
— 3 categories of symptoms
a) Reexperiencing Symptoms
b) Avoidance and numbing symptoms
c) Increased physiological arousal
— DSM-5: Individual is exposed to trauma; trauma is persistently reexperiencing; pervasive avoidance
of cues associated with the trauma and numbing of general responsiveness; persistent symptoms of
hyperarousal; lasted at least 1 month and cause significant distress.
— People experience trauma young tend to ‘mask symptoms’ until later in life.
— As they aged PTSD symptoms exacerbation was common
— Sleep disturbances and memory impairment are seen commonly in OLDER adults in general and
may not be associated with trauma exposure per se.
— Among older veterans, the most salient PTSD symptoms were distress when exposed to trauma-
related events and diminished interest in usual activities.
— Suggesting, older adults with PTSD may be prone to symptom exacerbation/worsening when
faced with trauma-related triggers.
— Suggest PTSD like other anxiety disorders decline with advancing age
— Some older adults have a history of chronic PTSD, others indicated that symptomatology resurfaced
after a period of symptom-free functioning and yet others report the onset of combat-related PTSD
in later life
— Not much information on PTSD in older women, mostly men from war etc.
— Many combat soldiers experience symptoms 40-50years later
— Difficult to study prevalence on war soldiers and holocaust survivors as most are dead
— Scotland air disaster – elderly had similar rate of PTSD to younger participants; 84% and 100% of
both participants met criteria for PTSD
— Relationship between severity of trauma and age
— Delayed-onset could be due to as the person ages, physical and mental resilience over time decreases
— Normal stressors such as retirement and bereavement may precipitate delayed onset PTSD may
not have the psychological resources to cope
— Co-Morbid – likely to experience MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER, other anxiety disorders, somatic
conditions (feel extreme anxiety over physical symptoms SSD), cognitive disturbances and
ALCOHOLISM
— 53% reported cases alcoholism among veterans
— Alcohol is rationalized as a means of self-medication to reduce symptoms such as
nightmares, insomnia, and anxiety - a lot more research is needed
— Radiating effects of exposure to trauma on the elderly – Advancing age potentially represents a
differential vulnerability factor that moderates the impact of exposure to a stressor
— Presumably if older persons are more susceptible to the effects of a stressor, greater negative
effects of their psychosocial functioning could be expected, regardless of the type of trauma to
which they are exposed
— General Psychological Effects – depend heavily on the individual’s premorbid functioning, particularly
with regard to anxiety, depression and extant PTSD. Characteristics of the stressor and individual
,2
differences in coping skills appeared significant in this report.
— Physical Effects – Older adults are more likely to manifest trauma-related symptoms somatically
— Coping Strategies – younger soldiers were more likely to experience stress reactions after
combat exposure, suggesting that emotional maturity may increase resilience in coping
strategies
, 3
— Much more research is needed – specific symptoms may differ in older adults. The
potential differences could lead to misdiagnosis
BROWN – SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER COMORBITY
PYC4802 - Psychopathology Articles
Summarized
THEME 2: TRAUMA AND STRESSOR RELATED DISORDERS
ARTICLES
AVERILL – POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN OLDER ADULTS: A CONCEPTUAL REVIEW
— This review – 1) Summarize and integrate the extant literature on PTSD in older adults; 2) To
spotlight special concerns that are involved in understanding PTSD in older adults; 3) To set the stage
for future research in the relatively neglected area.
— Initiated by exposure to extraordinarily stressful life events
— 3 categories of symptoms
a) Reexperiencing Symptoms
b) Avoidance and numbing symptoms
c) Increased physiological arousal
— DSM-5: Individual is exposed to trauma; trauma is persistently reexperiencing; pervasive avoidance
of cues associated with the trauma and numbing of general responsiveness; persistent symptoms of
hyperarousal; lasted at least 1 month and cause significant distress.
— People experience trauma young tend to ‘mask symptoms’ until later in life.
— As they aged PTSD symptoms exacerbation was common
— Sleep disturbances and memory impairment are seen commonly in OLDER adults in general and
may not be associated with trauma exposure per se.
— Among older veterans, the most salient PTSD symptoms were distress when exposed to trauma-
related events and diminished interest in usual activities.
— Suggesting, older adults with PTSD may be prone to symptom exacerbation/worsening when
faced with trauma-related triggers.
— Suggest PTSD like other anxiety disorders decline with advancing age
— Some older adults have a history of chronic PTSD, others indicated that symptomatology resurfaced
after a period of symptom-free functioning and yet others report the onset of combat-related PTSD
in later life
— Not much information on PTSD in older women, mostly men from war etc.
— Many combat soldiers experience symptoms 40-50years later
— Difficult to study prevalence on war soldiers and holocaust survivors as most are dead
— Scotland air disaster – elderly had similar rate of PTSD to younger participants; 84% and 100% of
both participants met criteria for PTSD
— Relationship between severity of trauma and age
— Delayed-onset could be due to as the person ages, physical and mental resilience over time decreases
— Normal stressors such as retirement and bereavement may precipitate delayed onset PTSD may
not have the psychological resources to cope
— Co-Morbid – likely to experience MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER, other anxiety disorders, somatic
conditions (feel extreme anxiety over physical symptoms SSD), cognitive disturbances and
ALCOHOLISM
— 53% reported cases alcoholism among veterans
— Alcohol is rationalized as a means of self-medication to reduce symptoms such as
nightmares, insomnia, and anxiety - a lot more research is needed
— Radiating effects of exposure to trauma on the elderly – Advancing age potentially represents a
differential vulnerability factor that moderates the impact of exposure to a stressor
— Presumably if older persons are more susceptible to the effects of a stressor, greater negative
effects of their psychosocial functioning could be expected, regardless of the type of trauma to
which they are exposed
— General Psychological Effects – depend heavily on the individual’s premorbid functioning, particularly
with regard to anxiety, depression and extant PTSD. Characteristics of the stressor and individual
,2
differences in coping skills appeared significant in this report.
— Physical Effects – Older adults are more likely to manifest trauma-related symptoms somatically
— Coping Strategies – younger soldiers were more likely to experience stress reactions after
combat exposure, suggesting that emotional maturity may increase resilience in coping
strategies
, 3
— Much more research is needed – specific symptoms may differ in older adults. The
potential differences could lead to misdiagnosis
BROWN – SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER COMORBITY
