[libribook.com] Traumatic Scar Tissue Management 1st Edition

ASD symptoms include (DSM-V 2013):
• Intense or prolonged psychological distress or physiological reactivity at
exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of
the traumatic event
• A subjective sense of numbing, detachment, altered emotional responses
• Altered sense of one’s surroundings or oneself
• Inability to remember at least one important aspect of the traumatic event –not
associated with head trauma or substance abuse
• Recurrent and intrusive distressing memories and/or dreams of the event
• Dissociative reactions
• Persistent and effortful avoidance of thoughts, conversations, feelings,
activities, places or physical reminders that arouse recollections of the trauma
• Sleep disturbance
• Hypervigilence
• Irritable, angry or aggressive behavior
• Exaggerated startle response
• Agitation or restlessness.
To be classified as ASD, these physiological, emotional, cognitive and
behavioral changes mustimpose significant impact on important areas of
functioning (e.g. social, occupational or the ability to obtain and use support)
and occur within a month of the incident, and last for at least 2 days, but not
more than 4 weeks.
ASD may be conceptualized as severe distress in the acute phase but without the
presumption that it will develop into PTSD. ASD diagnosis is a means to
describe acute stress responses that are severe enough to warrant clinical
attention. In many health systems, receiving a diagnosis can facilitate access to
mental health services, and so the ASD diagnosis may allow people in need of
mental health services to receive adequate care (DSM-V 2013).
Additional ASD Considerations for Various Phases of Recovery