Recent research suggests that the PTSD symptoms that have the greatest influence on quality of life for sufferers of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) are heightened arousal, irritability, difficulty sleeping and anxiety.
Such is the disruption caused by these symptoms that patients indicated that they would be prepared to sacrifice on average 13 years of their lives to live unburdened by these symptoms.
Most patients in the study indicated that dysfunctional behaviours and avoidance of certain thoughts and activites do not directly influence quality of life. These are perceived to be coping strategies.
The research, carried out by Lori Zoellner, Director of the University of Washington Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress, was published in the Journal of Psychiatric Services in March 2011.
Psychotherapists working with PTSD, such as those trained in sensorimotor psychotherapy techniques, begin treatment by working on symptoms such as these. This is first phase of Pierre Janet’s phase-oriented treatment approach: the symptom reduction and stabilisation phase.
Only when phase one has been achieved is it possible to consider whether the client would like to proceed to phase two (treatment of traumatic memory) and then phase three (personality integration).
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