Trauma Disorders: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment for Long-Term Recovery
- Samantha Leonie
Traumas can leave a lasting impression on our bodies by putting them through turmoil and exaggerated reactions. The result is the development of trauma disorders that can go unchecked. In this blog, we will understand what trauma disorders are, their different types, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for long-term well-being.
According to the American Psychological Association, mental health trauma can be defined as any disruptive experience that causes fear, helplessness, dissociation, confusion, and other intense feelings, leading to short-term and long-term effects on mental health.
The effects of trauma can be mental, psychological, and physical. These effects can cause traumatic disorders over time. These effects don’t only cause mental health trauma disorders in adults but in children as well.
Table of Contents
Types of Trauma Disorders in Clinical Mental Health Care
According to the American Psychiatric Association, the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), released in 2013, lists the following types of trauma disorders:
PTSD is perhaps the most well-known trauma disorder. A 2020 study reveals that almost 13 million Americans had PTSD. It can occur after experiencing a traumatic event and impacts your or others’ lives. The symptoms of such mental health trauma might appear within days or months after the experience. To confirm a diagnosis, the symptoms must present for longer than one month. The most common trauma symptoms include flashbacks, severe anxiety, behavioral changes such as insomnia, withdrawing from loved ones, and engaging in reckless or self-destructive behaviors. It may also manifest as cognitive disturbances like irritability, nightmares or uncontrolled thoughts about the event. In severe cases, symptoms of negative thoughts about self or others, and fear/paranoia may also develop.
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)
Symptoms of ASD are experienced during or immediately after trauma and may last for a maximum of four weeks before the diagnosis must be reassessed. The duration of symptoms is at least 3 days but no longer than 4 weeks. Symptoms include flashbacks, severe anxiety, avoidance and emotional detachment. If symptoms of this acute trauma stress disorder persist for more than four weeks, then PTSD might be diagnosed.
Adjustment disorder
Adjustment Disorder is a short-term stress-related condition. The emotional and behavioral symptoms in response to a major life event such as losing a job, moving to a new place, having a bay or a breakup. The symptoms of sadness and anxiety may develop within three months of the event and end by six months as the stressor ends or the person adjusts to the situation. The diagnosis should be reevaluated if symptoms persist for more than 6 months after the stressor has ended.
Reactive attachment disorder (RAD) (diagnosed only in children)
Reactive attachment disorder occurs in children when a child who receives inconsistent care fails to build a healthy relationship with the caregivers. Diagnosed in age 9 months to 5 years, RAD is characterized by a consistent pattern of emotionally withdrawn behavior by the child towards their caregiver. A child with RAD rarely seeks comfort when distressed and rarely responds to comfort if given. RAD symptoms are very similar to those exhibited by children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and children exhibiting these symptoms should be evaluated for both disorders.
Disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED) (diagnosed only in children)
Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED) is a pattern of behavior in which a child exhibits inappropriately familiar behavior with strangers. The symptoms of this trauma illness include violation of normal social boundaries, such as reduced reluctance in approaching and interacting with unfamiliar adults, unusually familiar behavior (verbal or physical), diminished checking with the caregiver when venturing away in unfamiliar settings, or willingness to go off with unfamiliar adults. The DSED mental health trauma disorder arises from insufficient, unstable care, neglect and trauma.
Other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder
This category applies when symptoms are characteristic of, but do not meet the full criteria for, any of the disorders included in the trauma- and stressor-related disorders category. The following are some examples of such trauma illnesses.
- Adjustment-like disorders lasting more than six months without a prolonged stressor.
- Adjustment-like disorder with delayed onset of symptoms occurring more than three months after the stressor
- Ataque de nervios (attack of the nerves), a cultural syndrome observed among Latin Americans. It involves uncontrolled crying, screaming and trembling triggered by stress.
- Persistent complex bereavement characterized by severe and persistent grief and mourning reactions.
Unspecified trauma- and stressor-related disorder
This category is used when the clinician chooses not to specify why the criteria for a specific disorder are not met, or when there is insufficient information, such as in an emergency room setting.
Trauma Symptoms and Common Responses to Distressing Experiences
The following are the various symptoms of trauma disorders in adults and children. Although different types of mental health trauma disorders exhibit different symptoms. These are some of the most common presentations of trauma stress disorders.
| Functioning Domains | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Physical/Physiological |
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| Medical |
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| Cognitive |
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| Attachment/Relationships |
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| Behavioral |
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| Emotional |
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Effects of Trauma Stress Disorder on Daily Functioning and Well-Being
Providers need to understand how trauma can affect treatment presentation, engagement, and the outcome of mental health treatment programs. The effects of traumatic disorders can be different for every individual. Hence, clinicians need careful assessment and vigilant evaluation to make an accurate trauma diagnosis.
The most common effects of mental health trauma include dissociation from family, loved ones, and society. Individuals either develop extreme emotions like stress, anger, helplessness, and guilt, or numbness and a lack of emotions. Both these extremes affect daily life and make functioning difficult.
Individuals with a trauma diagnosis struggle with academic and professional performance too. Impaired decision-making is another effect of trauma stress disorders.
According to the National Library of Medicine, physical effects, including somatic complaints, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neurological, musculoskeletal, respiratory, and dermatological disorders, urological problems, and substance use disorders, can also hinder daily life.
Trauma Diagnosis and Professional Assessment Considerations
According to the American Psychological Association guidelines, accurate, compassionate trauma assessment entails expanding the use of assessment measures beyond simple diagnoses. It should be more toward people’s actual experiences, which helps in accurate trauma diagnosis.
For effective trauma treatment, it is crucial to diagnose the underlying stressor and past trauma event accurately. Therefore, it is important to consult a certified and experienced mental healthcare provider like Rise Well Behavioral, where experts assess and make a trauma diagnosis by using multiple measures, clinical work, and assessment. With a focus on reaching the causes and resolving conditions at the root, the practice offers mental health and addiction treatment programs in a compassionate environment.
Trauma Treatment and Evidence-Based Recovery Approaches
Trauma disorders require treatment that includes a combination of therapies under the supervision of clinical experts. Rise Well Behavioral offers one of the best mental health treatment programs, including PHP and IOP modules. Trauma treatment focused on patients’ long-term well-being is discussed below.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
The TF-CBT model is based on learning theories about the development of trauma stress disorder. TF-CBT treatment includes core elements that make up the acronym PRACTICE. It was originally developed for ages between 3-18, but some components are also used in trauma treatment for adults.
The PRACTICE elements include:
- Psychoeducation is provided to children and parents about trauma and PTSD symptoms, while parents are guided about parenting skills to aid in the management of the child’s symptoms.
- Relaxation, such as deep breathing and mindfulness to reduce symptoms.
- Affective expression and modulation skills to help identify and manage emotions.
- Cognitive coping skills are provided to address unhelpful thinking patterns.
- Trauma narrative to help tell and process the trauma in a safe environment.
- Is developed and processed.
- In vivo mastery of trauma reminders that include exposure to situations the individual avoids dude to association with trauma.
- Conjoint sessions, where the child and parent focus on having the child share their narrative and working on family communication, are also included.
- Enhancing safety focuses on developing healthy coping habits and behaviors.
Pharmacological Treatments
The psychological treatments can be paired with medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs]. These medicines are used as adjunct therapy.
Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma-informed care programs are based on the recognition that trauma survivors are vulnerable and potentially have triggers that traditional service approaches may aggravate. These programs seek to avoid those triggers and to prevent the trauma from recurring.
Trauma disorders related FAQ’s
The following factors influence the development of trauma disorders.
- Genetics
- Prior trauma
- Individual’s resilience and coping temperament
- Severity of the traumatic event
Trauma can severely impact relationships and communication by the development of emotional numbness, hypervigilance, trust issues, anxiety, and depression.
Trauma disorders can alter brain functioning by affecting the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, resulting in decreased concentration, memory, and impaired decision-making.
Trauma disorders can impact professional, academic, and daily routines due to the body’s persistent fight-or-flight response.
The long-term challenges due to trauma-related conditions include physical, psychological, mental, and emotional challenges that hinder the daily life of the affected individuals.
Conclusion for Trauma disorders
Traumatic disorders not only affect the mental health of individuals, but they also affect their physical well-being. Various studies reveal that the prevalence of trauma disorders is rising.
Many affected individuals take months and sometimes years before finally seeking help. If you or your loved ones are experiencing any symptoms after a traumatic event, then get evaluated and seek professional support.
Book a consultation with Rise Well Behavioral for a careful assessment in an empathetic environment to receive evidence-based mental health treatment programs. Your path to recovery becomes easier with professional support that leads you to healing, resilience and long-term well-being.
