Acute stress disorder history and symptoms

Acute stress disorder Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Acute stress disorder from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
Diagnostic Criteria
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Psychotherapy
Brain Stimulation Therapy
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Acute stress disorder history and symptoms On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Acute stress disorder history and symptoms All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Acute stress disorder history and symptoms
CDC on Acute stress disorder history and symptoms
Acute stress disorder history and symptoms in the news
Blogs on Acute stress disorder history and symptoms
Directions to Hospitals Treating Acute stress disorder
Risk calculators and risk factors for Acute stress disorder history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Simrat Sarai, M.D. [2]

History

Traumatic events can lead to a wide variety of emotional reactions. The treating clinician must understand that underneath the individual’s reaction is an attempt to cope with the traumatic event. Most individuals have some symptoms after a significant traumatic event. A minority have sufficient symptoms to fulfill the diagnostic criteria for acute stress disorder (ASD) or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Not all trauma victims want or need professional assistance. Those who refuse help may not be in denial, but may see themselves as more resilient or able to rely on the support of family and friends. Physicians should support patients who want to talk about their experience, but not push those who prefer not to.12 Early identification and management of ASD can decrease the percentage of patients who develop PTSD.13

Within minutes of a traumatic event, persons may develop an acute stress reaction. This is a transient condition involving a broad array of signs and symptoms, including depression, anxiety, fatigue, difficulties with concentration and memory, hyperarousal, and social withdrawal. These occur at the same time as or within a few minutes of the traumatic event, and in most cases disappear within hours or days.11 Patients with traumatic stress often present with general symptoms, such as headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, rheumatic pain, skin disorders, difficulty sleeping, cardiovascular symptoms,1,14 or psychological problems (e.g., anxiety, depression).15

Not all trauma victims want or need professional assistance. Those who refuse help may not be in denial, but may see themselves as more resilient or able to rely on the support of family and friends. Physicians should support patients who want to talk about their experience, but not push those who prefer not to.12 Early identification and management of ASD can decrease the percentage of patients who develop PTSD.13

Within minutes of a traumatic event, persons may develop an acute stress reaction. This is a transient condition involving a broad array of signs and symptoms, including depression, anxiety, fatigue, difficulties with concentration and memory, hyperarousal, and social withdrawal. These occur at the same time as or within a few minutes of the traumatic event, and in most cases disappear within hours or days.11 Patients with traumatic stress often present with general symptoms, such as headaches, gastrointestinal disorders, rheumatic pain, skin disorders, difficulty sleeping, cardiovascular symptoms,1,14 or psychological problems (e.g., anxiety, depression).15

Symptoms

Symptoms of acute stress disorder may include the following:

Type of Symptoms	Symptoms
Dissociative symptoms	A reduced awareness of surroundings Feeling numb, detached or being emotionally unresponsive Derealization, which occurs when the environment seems unreal or strange Depersonalization, which occurs when the thoughts or emotions don’t seem real or don’t seem like they belong to oneself Dissociative amnesia, which occurs when one cannot remember the important aspects of the traumatic event
Reexperiencing the traumatic event	Feeling like reliving the traumatic event Feeling distressed when something reminds of the traumatic event Having recurring images, thoughts, nightmares, illusions, or flashback episodes of the traumatic event
Avoidence	An individual may avoid stimuli that cause him/her to remember or reexperience the traumatic event, such as: People Conversations Places Objects Activities Thoughts Feelings
Anxiety or increased arousal	The symptoms of anxiety and increased arousal include the folowing: Having trouble sleeping Being irritable Having difficulty concentrating Being unable to stop moving or sit still Being constantly tense or on guard Becoming startled too easily or at inappropriate times
Distress	The symptoms of ASD may cause distress or disrupt important aspects of the life, such as work or social settings. An individual may have an inability to start or complete necessary tasks or an inability to tell others about the traumatic event