Psychology
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
A psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, characterized by intrusive memories and avoidance.
Key Clinical Features
- Intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and nightmares
- Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma
- Negative alterations in cognition and mood
- Hyperarousal and hypervigilance
Nursing Care
- Establish a trusting therapeutic relationship
- Create a safe, non-threatening environment
- Encourage expression of feelings without pressure to relive the trauma
- Monitor for substance use disorders often used as coping mechanisms
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