Misdiagnosis with BPD Some of the symptoms of complex PTSD are very similar to those of borderline personality disorder (BPD), and not all professionals are aware of complex PTSD. As a result, some people are given a diagnosis of BPD or another personality disorder when complex PTSD fits their experiences more closely.
Differentials diagnosis.
In the differential diagnosis of PTSD, it is important to consider acute stress disorder, dissociative disorders, depression, generalized anxiety, panic disorder, phobias, substance abuse, psychiatric manifestation of medical conditions, and malingering (Table 8).
PTS is common after military deployment or exposure to another highly stressful event. As the symptoms aren't as intense, PTS often will self-resolve without the need for professional help or medication. PTSD symptoms are more extreme, repetitive, and often cause problems in everyday functioning.
“The conflation of stress with trauma—and of trauma with PTSD—has become rife. This is the most convincing explanation for overdiagnosis,” they write. Other factors, such as the role of “compensation culture” and vested interests of the “trauma industry” might also be involved, they say.
PTSD, previously considered an anxiety disorder, often develops alongside a generalized anxiety disorder. It can lead to other disorders, such as panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. 3 You may also develop phobias and overlapping anxiety symptoms as a result of the trauma.
Our review suggests that individuals with PTSD, a history of trauma, or depression are at risk for producing false memories when they are exposed to information that is related to their knowledge base. Memory aberrations are notable characteristics of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.
Uncomplicated PTSD is linked to one major traumatic event, versus multiple events, and is the easiest form of PTSD to treat. Symptoms of uncomplicated PTSD include: avoidance of trauma reminders, nightmares, flashbacks to the event, irritability, mood changes and changes in relationships.
People with PTSD have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that last long after the traumatic event has ended. They may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares; they may feel sadness, fear or anger; and they may feel detached or estranged from other people.
The most common symptoms of PTSD silent scream include intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, and increased anxiety. Some sufferers develop physical symptoms such as stomachaches, headaches, and nausea.
Gambling, reckless driving, unsafe sexual behaviors, extreme drinking, and the use of weapons are all examples of what risky behavior can look like in those with PTSD. It is likely that gender plays a role in who develops the risky behavior symptom of PTSD.
Such an interaction could likely cause stress. And yelling can be a trigger for PTSD. However, if you do not have PTSD, making this comment can be insensitive to those with the condition. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD, PTSD is a disorder in the DSM-5.
The avoidance and numbing cluster (Criterion C) in DSM-IV was separated into two criteria in DSM-5: Criterion C (avoidance) and Criterion D (negative alterations in cognitions and mood). This results in a requirement that a PTSD diagnosis includes at least one avoidance symptom.
PTSD is particularly likely to be comorbid with affective disorders, other anxiety disorders, somatization, substance abuse, and dissociative disorders.
DSM-5 pays more attention to the behavioral symptoms that accompany PTSD and proposes four distinct diagnostic clusters instead of three. They are described as re-experiencing, avoidance, negative cognitions and mood, and arousal.
The disorder is characterized by three main types of symptoms: Re-experiencing the trauma through intrusive distressing recollections of the event, flashbacks, and nightmares.
Beyond the initial emotional reactions during the event, those most likely to surface include anger, fear, sadness, and shame. However, individuals may encounter difficulty in identifying any of these feelings for various reasons.
There are four medications currently recommended as first-choice options to treat PTSD. Zoloft (sertraline) and Paxil (paroxetine) are FDA approved to treat PTSD. But Prozac (fluoxetine) and Effexor XR (venlafaxine) are also good first-choice options, even though they're not officially approved for PTSD.
Women with PTSD may be more likely than men with PTSD to: Be easily startled. Have more trouble feeling emotions or feel numb. Avoid things that remind them of the trauma.
Dissociation is a state of mind that occurs when someone separates themselves from their emotions, and is a common trauma defense mechanism in people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Dissociation can feel like an out-of-body experience or like disconnection from the world around you.
Flashbacks and dissociation commonly occur with PTSD. While they are not psychotic symptoms, they share some features with psychosis, including: During a flashback, you might temporarily lose connection with your present situation, being transported back in time to a traumatic event in your memory.
"With other conditions, like major depressive disorder or panic disorder, there's no previous life event that has to have occurred." But not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD. "In order for it to be PTSD, the person has to also meet the other criteria and have certain symptoms," says Capaldi.
Intrusive Thoughts in PTSD
Sufferers report a frequent recurrence of distressing memories. Patients also have nightmares about the event. They exhibit movements during sleep as a result of nightmares. They feel as if the incident is taking place again and again in their life.