PTSD

Both of these articles were interesting reads. Reading how the professionals go about changing the DSM from one version to the next was very interesting. It is important to know that, as a future clinician, I have a voice and can make a change in the field if needed. One example that stood out in the DSM paper was the inclusion of a preschool subtype. It is something I had not considered before, but it seems useful to have different standards for children who cannot express themselves the same way as adults. The preschool age is a critical development period; if kids cannot receive the help they need because they don't fit into a box, then something should change. I imagine most clinicians that work with PTSD in younger kids are aware that it manifests differently than the previous DSM's allocated for. However, including this subtype can allow for more clinicians to be educated on the issue, and more kids receiving the proper diagnosis and treatment. The articles described control being a major factor in PTSD. As a clinician, I think it would be important to allow the client to take back control after it had been taken from them as the article discusses. However, what would we do if a client overcompensates for a lack of control by trying to control everything? Would a focus on the specific event and where control plays a role help to decrease unnecessary control in other areas?

I also enjoyed reading the paper discussing cultural considerations when it comes to PTSD. I think we are in a critical period that could allow us to learn a lot about trauma, different kinds of trauma, and trauma across cultures. For example, the war in Ukraine and Russia could shed light on PTSD in this part of the world. In addition, the researchers could examine how PTSD manifests in civilians and soldiers. The middle east holds a lot of information regarding historical and prolonged trauma. I wondered while reading- what does PTSD look like in cultures that are always facing some sort of trauma? I thought about the nation of Haiti because I have been traveling there for the past twelve years. These are people that are constantly facing traumatic events, struggle to have basic needs met, and seem to never be able to catch a break. What would PTSD look like there? Is trauma just a normal life experience? Is there little distress because the events are perceived as normal? I wonder what biological and neurological traits are being affected and passed on to generations. Again in the middle east, how does trauma look in a culture that is full of war and oppression? I think there is a lot of room for more research on PTSD and trauma cross-culturally.