PTSD and Action

Valach Ladislav

doi:10.36959/362/475

Abstract

Trying to understand, diagnose, conceptualize and treat Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) leads to a range of ideas and propositions reaching from a simple reaction to a meaningful dealing with threat expectations. While the theories of PTSD are centered around one specific segment of human behavior (e.g. conditioning or coping) many treatment programs are eclectic. It is suggested that conceptualizing processes involved in PTSD in terms of an action theory informed frame of reference would allow to devise an integrative understanding of PTSD, integrative theory of the target processes and, finally, a theory-based treatment integrating the individual techniques in a well-reasoned system.

Highlights

Mental health problems following an existentially threatening experience were recognized as common in the last century and post-traumatic stress has been assessed as requiring a diagnosis as a disorder (PTSD) in its own right
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms are usually grouped into four types [14]: The four symptom clusters are intrusions (Criterion B), avoidance (Criterion C), negative alterations in cognitions and mood (NACM; Criterion D), and alterations in arousal and reactivity (Criterion E)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms within an Action. Facing these open questions and problems in understanding PTSD we propose the contextual action theory [21] based on the theory of goal- directed action [22] as a conceptual backdrop for dealing with PTSD symptoms

Summary

Introduction

Mental health problems following an existentially threatening experience were recognized as common in the last century and post-traumatic stress has been assessed as requiring a diagnosis as a disorder (PTSD) in its own right. It would be helpful if we possessed a clear conceptualization of everyday actions and the role that the processes described as symptoms of PTSD play in them. In order to understand the PTSD, we would require subjective experiences of and in actions.

Results

Conclusion