Acute Stress Disorder
What is Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)?
ASD is an anxiety disorder characterized by a group
of dissociative and anxiety symptoms that occur
within a month of a traumatic event.
Traumatic events include: witnessing or experiencing
rape or other violent assaults; death, suffered a
severe injury or natural disaster, or a severe transport
accidents.
The person's response involves intense fear,
guiltiness, helplessness, or horror.
What are the differences between ASD and
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
ASD and PTSD are both disorders that can occur following a
traumatic event.
ASD can be diagnosed between 2 days and 4 weeks after
exposure, where PTSD can only be diagnosed after 4 weeks
have passed.
In addition to the symptoms experienced in PTSD, ASD includes
symptoms of dissociation.
If left untreated, ASD is likely to advance into PTSD.
Symptoms:
Dissociative symptoms
Less aware of surroundings
Feeling numb or detached
Derealization
Depersonalization
Dissociative amnesia
Re-experiencing symptoms
Dreams
Illusions
Flashback
Intense distress
Other symptoms that indicate ASD
Sleeping problems
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Inability to do necessary tasks including seeking help
Feeling detached from others
Motor restlessness
Avoiding people or places that remind him/her about the event
Diagnosis
ASD is diagnosed by:
comparing the patient's symptoms to the DSM-IV and
DSM-IV-TR criteria
using the Acute Stress Disorder Scale
Assessing Exposure to a Traumatic
Event and Establishing a Diagnosis
Screen for recent or remote exposure to a traumatic
event (necessary for a diagnosis of ASD or PTSD)
.
Consider the individual’s response to the event as well
as the nature of the event itself.
Evaluate safety, including risk for suicide and potential
to harm others. • Determine level of functioning (social,
occupational, interpersonal, self-care).
Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder
Medications
Psychotherapy
Alternative and complementary
treatments
Medications
Prescribed antidepressants:
Sertraline
Paroxetine
Fluvoxamine
Citalopram
Clomipramine
For avoidance symptoms
Fluoxetine
Medications
To reduce anxiety and panic
Alprazolam
Diazepam
Clonazepam
Lorazepam
Propanol
For insomnia and nightmares
Trazodone
Topiramate
Psychotherapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Gestalt Therapy
Rational-Emotive Therapy
Behavior Therapy
Group and Family Therapies
Therapeutic Writing
Alternative and complementary treatments
Yoga
Meditation
Music Therapy
Hypnosis
Hydrotherapy
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Critical Incident Stress Management Program
The effect of ASD on daily living
Physical well-being
Thoughts of suicide
Drug and alchool abuse
Isolation from family and friends
Difficulty functioning at work
Impact on the child’s school work