Psychology of Trauma Exam 2025
With 100% Correct Answers
etymology of trauma - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔greek, means "wound"
SAMHSA 3 E's - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔1. Event: what happened? (objective)
2. Experience: how was the event perceived by the individual? (subjective)
3. Effects: what was the lasting reaction to the event? (posttraumatic experience/reaction)
event - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔objective details about an event (who, where, when, etc.); factual
statements
experience - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔subjective portion of experience (thought processes,
previous beliefs, previous experiences, perception of life, social support, etc)
effect - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔lasting reaction to event (posttraumatic experience/reaction)
why is it important to have a precise definition of trauma? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔traumatic
event and reaction are not the same thing. objective characteristics of trauma events differ and
just knowing the categorical event is not sufficient. we cannot judge the severity of a traumatic
event or its potential impact based on the objective characteristics of the event
PTSD - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔mental health condition that CAN (but doesn't have to0 follow a
traumatic experience
4 clusters of symptoms for PTSD - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔1. re-experiencing
2. avoidance
, 3. negative alterations in cognition and mood
4. alterations in arousal and reactivity
Re-experiencing - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Nightmares, flashbacks, and unwanted intrusive
thoughts of traumatic events
Avoidance - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔of trauma reminders (thoughts, memories, people, places,
and situations)
negative alterations in cognition and mood - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Persistent negative
emotions, estrangement or detachment from others, markedly diminished interest in activities,
inability to remember key aspects of the event.
Alterations in arousal and reactivity - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Irritable or aggressive behavior
Self-destructive or reckless behavior
Hypervigilance
Exaggerated startle response
Problems in concentration
Sleep disturbance
why is PTSD considered a disease of recovery? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔study by Rothbaum, Foa,
Riggs, Murdock, & Walsh showed reactions of women to rape over time and PTSD occurred at
later times during span of recovery (everyone's symptoms improve over 1 month, diagnosis
requires symptoms to persist over 1 month; symptoms continued to improve for women
without PTSD and they continued to recover, women with PTSD get "stuck in their recovery")
Criterion A - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔must meet one of the following for ptsd diagnosis: direct
personal experience of an event that involves actual or threatened death/serious injury, or
other threat to one's physical integrity (rape); or witnessing an event that involves death, injury,
With 100% Correct Answers
etymology of trauma - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔greek, means "wound"
SAMHSA 3 E's - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔1. Event: what happened? (objective)
2. Experience: how was the event perceived by the individual? (subjective)
3. Effects: what was the lasting reaction to the event? (posttraumatic experience/reaction)
event - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔objective details about an event (who, where, when, etc.); factual
statements
experience - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔subjective portion of experience (thought processes,
previous beliefs, previous experiences, perception of life, social support, etc)
effect - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔lasting reaction to event (posttraumatic experience/reaction)
why is it important to have a precise definition of trauma? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔traumatic
event and reaction are not the same thing. objective characteristics of trauma events differ and
just knowing the categorical event is not sufficient. we cannot judge the severity of a traumatic
event or its potential impact based on the objective characteristics of the event
PTSD - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔mental health condition that CAN (but doesn't have to0 follow a
traumatic experience
4 clusters of symptoms for PTSD - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔1. re-experiencing
2. avoidance
, 3. negative alterations in cognition and mood
4. alterations in arousal and reactivity
Re-experiencing - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Nightmares, flashbacks, and unwanted intrusive
thoughts of traumatic events
Avoidance - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔of trauma reminders (thoughts, memories, people, places,
and situations)
negative alterations in cognition and mood - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Persistent negative
emotions, estrangement or detachment from others, markedly diminished interest in activities,
inability to remember key aspects of the event.
Alterations in arousal and reactivity - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔Irritable or aggressive behavior
Self-destructive or reckless behavior
Hypervigilance
Exaggerated startle response
Problems in concentration
Sleep disturbance
why is PTSD considered a disease of recovery? - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔study by Rothbaum, Foa,
Riggs, Murdock, & Walsh showed reactions of women to rape over time and PTSD occurred at
later times during span of recovery (everyone's symptoms improve over 1 month, diagnosis
requires symptoms to persist over 1 month; symptoms continued to improve for women
without PTSD and they continued to recover, women with PTSD get "stuck in their recovery")
Criterion A - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔must meet one of the following for ptsd diagnosis: direct
personal experience of an event that involves actual or threatened death/serious injury, or
other threat to one's physical integrity (rape); or witnessing an event that involves death, injury,
