Quick review of the essential points— DSM5 diagnosis criteria, assessments, treatments—of these disorders to better prepare for the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam. This was informed by several exam prep programs, and can be used like flashcards or as a presentation.
5. Difference is timing
Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder
Begins over 4 weeks
after the event
Acute Stress Disorder
Occurs and ends within 4
weeks of the event
Symptoms last at least 2
days and less than 1
month
7. Diagnosis I
Symptom following the direct experience
or indirect experience (hearing about) of a
traumatic event
A. One symptom in each category
1. Re-experiencing the trauma
Recurring flashbacks, bad dreams or
frightening thoughts
2. Altered cognitions and mood
Forgetting details
Irrational beliefs or thoughts about the
cause of the trauma
Negative emotions: guilt, worry,
depression
3. Avoidance or numbing
Shunning any reminders
Feeling emotionally
numb
Detachment from people
4. Increased arousal or
reactivity
Hypervigilance, sleep
problems
Irritability, recklessness
Impaired concentration
8. Diagnosis II
2. Onset or duration
Begins over a month after the traumatic
event
Acute if lasting less than 3 months
Chronic if persisting 3 months or more
Delayed onset if the symptoms first occur
after 6 months or some years late
10. S1. Find Out More
1. Details about any disturbing episode
2. Frequency, duration and intensity and specifics of
symptoms
3. Affective history
4. Cognitive functioning
5. Anxiety history
6. Drug and alcohol history
7. Medical history (related to trauma)
8. Trauma and loss history
9. Potential for violence
10. Potential for suicide
11. S2. Assess or Refer
Tests
DAPS
Impact of Events Scale
Beck Anxiety Inventory
Clinician Administered PTSD Scale
PTSD Checklist
Children
K-SADS PTSD, of Child Behavior
Checklist CBC
ChildhoodTrauma Questionnaire
Psychometric Evaluation, of Children’s
Impact ofTraumatic Events Scale
Revised CITES-R
Medical evaluation
13. S5. Monitoring Progress
Quality of sleep
Proper use of medications
Trauma symptom
assessment
Affective functioning
Capacity to concentrate,
etc.
S6. AfterTermination
Medication monitoring for
compliance, to reduce high
rate of relapse
Medication monitoring for
side effects
Psychotherapies
Support group
15. Diagnosis I
Symptom following the direct
experience or indirect experience
of(hearing about) a traumatic event
1. One symptom in each category
1. Re-experiencing the trauma
Recurring flashbacks, bad dreams or
frightening thoughts
2. Altered cognitions and mood
Forgetting details
Irrational beliefs or thoughts about
the cause of the trauma
Negative emotions: guilt, worry,
3. Avoidance or numbing
Shunning any
reminders
Feeling emotionally
numb
Detachment from
people
4. Increased arousal or
reactivity
Hypervigilance, sleep
problems
Irritability, recklessness
Impaired
concentration
16. Diagnosis II
2. Onset or duration
Symptoms last at least 2 days and
less than 1 month
Occur within 4 weeks of the event
18. S1. Find Out
Details of any disturbing episodes
Medical evaluation
Cognitive functioning
Affective functioning
Substance use history
Violence and aggression history
Military history
Sleep disturbance
21. Diagnosis I
1. Emotional or behavioral
symptoms in response
to an identifiable
stressor
Occurs within 3 months
of the onset of the
stressor
Ends 6 months after
stressor gone
2. Sufficient intensity of
episode
Distress is out of
proportion to the
severity or intensity of
the stressor
Impairment is
significant
22. S1. Find Out
Details of symptoms
Work functioning
Trauma history
Substance abuse history
Destructiveness or self-
destructiveness, suicide history
Affective functioning
Cognitive functioning
S2. Refer & Assess
Tests
SCAD
24. S5. Monitoring Progress
Mood charting
Level of re-involvement
and concern about daily
activities and environment
Affective functioning
S6.Termination
Return to therapy if relapse
Support group
Hobbies and stress
reduction activities