Acute stress disorder (ASD) is a psychological condition that can occur in the first month following a traumatic event. In most cases, the following symptoms may indicate the possibility of acute stress disorder:
· A person saw, experienced or was faced with an event that entailed someone’s death, threatened death or serious harm, or caused a physical threat to that person or others.
· The person responded with powerful fear or horror.
Acute stress disorder is also referred to as psychological shock or sometimes just shock. Not everyone who experiences trauma will suffer from ASD. Every person is affected differently by exceptional stress and some are more vulnerable to traumatic stress and find it harder to cope than others.
Symptoms of ASD
Usually, the symptoms of ASD start within minutes of the traumatic event and can vary from patient to patient. Symptoms normally include the following:
· A “dazed” state of mind accompanied by feelings of detachment and unawareness of surroundings
· Reliving the trauma
· Problems experiencing pleasure
· Avoiding things that remind the patient of the trauma
· Anxiety, irritability, lack of concentration and problems sleeping
ASD symptoms are generally the same as symptoms for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The main difference between the two disorders is that PTSD cannot be diagnosed until the patient has had the symptoms for at least one month. For patients with ASD, dissociative symptoms are common such as not knowing where they are or the sensation that they are outside of their body. This is not true of PTSD.
Diagnostic Criteria
When diagnosing ASD, a doctor or psychologist will review the patient’s medical and psychological history and do a complete physical exam in order to rule out other medical causes for anxiety. After that, the doctor will use the following guidelines to make a diagnosis:
· The patient repeatedly relives a traumatic experience through recurring images, dreams, flashbacks, thoughts or illusions. He or she will also show signs of distress when exposed to anything that brings memories of the event.
· The patient will deliberately try to avoid certain places and situations.
· The anxiety suffered by the patient strongly affects his or her social and family life. The patient may suffer from stress so much that he or she cannot function properly, even to perform the smallest of tasks.
· The change in behavior began within one month of the event and lasts from two days to four weeks.
Treatment of ASD
Often acute stress disorder will resolve itself over time. Counseling and psychotherapy can help, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is a treatment that helps the patient understand how his or her thoughts can worsen feelings of stress and fear. CBT teaches the patient to think differently about the event.
Prescription drugs are available for depression and anxiety that can help relieve the symptoms of ASD. Many patients respond best to a combination of therapy and medication to control their stress and anxiety.
Acute stress disorder is nowhere near as critical as post traumatic stress syndrome, but needs to be treated to avoid further complications.
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