Acute Stress

Acute Stress

Introduction (relation to health workers)

It’s a catastrophic stressor that would evoke significant symptoms of distress in most people.

Exposure to a catastrophic stress is a necessary condition and it’s not sufficient by itself to traumatize an individual, what matters is the emotional response of the person exposed to the event.

The chief difference between and PTSD is time, ASD happen within 4 weeks of the event and PTSD is delayed

Most people experience some form of stress reaction after having been exposed to severe threat, or experiencing or witnessing horror or severe destruction. These normal stress reactions stem from the lingering effects of the chemical mobilization of the body to deal with imminent threat or existing danger, as well as the challenges to beliefs and meaning that such experiences often pose. In most cases stress reactions subside during the weeks following the incident. In a minority of cases, however, stress reactions following a highly traumatic event are particularly severe or enduring.

Understanding the physiology of trauma contributes to understanding the variety of symptoms that can be part of an individual’s acute stress reactions (ASR). In the month following a traumatic event individuals most severely affected by trauma often meet the diagnostic criteria for acute stress disorder (ASD) (DSM-IV, APA, 1994). After that initial month, of course, many individuals with severe and enduring ASRs are diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Medically, trauma refers to a serious or critical bodily injury, wound or shock. This definition is often associated with trauma medicine practiced in emergency rooms and represents a popular view of the term. Psychologically, trauma has assumed a different meaning and refers to an experience that is emotionally painful, distressful or shocking, which often results in lasting mental and physical effects.

Definitions of Acute Stress Disorder

* Acute stress...