Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Alternative Paradigm

Michael James Scott

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajap.20200901.11

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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Alternative Paradigm

Michael James Scott

Published in American Journal of Applied Psychology (Volume 9, Issue 1)

Received: 6 January 2020 Accepted: 20 January 2020 Published: 3 February 2020

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Abstract

Trauma focussed treatments for PTSD, have limited efficacy and utility. The purpose of this paper is to review a) the theoretical base of TFT’s, in particular the evidence that a flawed traumatic memory lies at the heart of the development of PTSD b) the evidence that a focus on the traumatic memory is a necessary part of the evidence based treatment of PTSD and c) to distil an alternative model of PTSD. The author reviews existing trauma focussed treatments to determine a) what may be the active ingredients for change and b) treatment acceptability. He suggests that it is not proven that the qualities of the traumatic memory are pivotal in the development and maintenance of PTSD. Psychogenic amnesia is not found to be significantly associated with outcome, compared to the bodily expressions of exaggerated startle response and hypervigilance. There appears no added value in re-living the traumatic event per se, rather the latter may prevent treatment compliance. The author suggests an alternative conceptualisation of PTSD, that does not appeal to a notion of arrested information processing but suggests instead that PTSD arises from a state of terrified surprise, (which is a combination of an exaggerated startle response and hypervigilance) which the person explains in terms of a hostile environment.

Published in	American Journal of Applied Psychology (Volume 9, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajap.20200901.11
Page(s)	1-6
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Trauma-focussed Treatment, Arrested Information Processing, EMDR, Treatment Acceptability, Dropouts

References

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Michael James Scott. (2020). Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Alternative Paradigm. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 9(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20200901.11

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ACS Style

Michael James Scott. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Alternative Paradigm. Am. J. Appl. Psychol. 2020, 9(1), 1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20200901.11

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AMA Style

Michael James Scott. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Alternative Paradigm. Am J Appl Psychol. 2020;9(1):1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20200901.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajap.20200901.11,
  author = {Michael James Scott},
  title = {Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Alternative Paradigm},
  journal = {American Journal of Applied Psychology},
  volume = {9},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-6},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajap.20200901.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20200901.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajap.20200901.11},
  abstract = {Trauma focussed treatments for PTSD, have limited efficacy and utility. The purpose of this paper is to review a) the theoretical base of TFT’s, in particular the evidence that a flawed traumatic memory lies at the heart of the development of PTSD b) the evidence that a focus on the traumatic memory is a necessary part of the evidence based treatment of PTSD and c) to distil an alternative model of PTSD. The author reviews existing trauma focussed treatments to determine a) what may be the active ingredients for change and b) treatment acceptability. He suggests that it is not proven that the qualities of the traumatic memory are pivotal in the development and maintenance of PTSD. Psychogenic amnesia is not found to be significantly associated with outcome, compared to the bodily expressions of exaggerated startle response and hypervigilance. There appears no added value in re-living the traumatic event per se, rather the latter may prevent treatment compliance. The author suggests an alternative conceptualisation of PTSD, that does not appeal to a notion of arrested information processing but suggests instead that PTSD arises from a state of terrified surprise, (which is a combination of an exaggerated startle response and hypervigilance) which the person explains in terms of a hostile environment.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
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N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20200901.11
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Author Information

Michael James Scott

Psychological Therapies Unit, Liverpool, United Kingdom

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APA Style

Michael James Scott. (2020). Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Alternative Paradigm. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 9(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20200901.11

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ACS Style

Michael James Scott. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Alternative Paradigm. Am. J. Appl. Psychol. 2020, 9(1), 1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20200901.11

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AMA Style

Michael James Scott. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Alternative Paradigm. Am J Appl Psychol. 2020;9(1):1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20200901.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajap.20200901.11,
  author = {Michael James Scott},
  title = {Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Alternative Paradigm},
  journal = {American Journal of Applied Psychology},
  volume = {9},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-6},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajap.20200901.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20200901.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajap.20200901.11},
  abstract = {Trauma focussed treatments for PTSD, have limited efficacy and utility. The purpose of this paper is to review a) the theoretical base of TFT’s, in particular the evidence that a flawed traumatic memory lies at the heart of the development of PTSD b) the evidence that a focus on the traumatic memory is a necessary part of the evidence based treatment of PTSD and c) to distil an alternative model of PTSD. The author reviews existing trauma focussed treatments to determine a) what may be the active ingredients for change and b) treatment acceptability. He suggests that it is not proven that the qualities of the traumatic memory are pivotal in the development and maintenance of PTSD. Psychogenic amnesia is not found to be significantly associated with outcome, compared to the bodily expressions of exaggerated startle response and hypervigilance. There appears no added value in re-living the traumatic event per se, rather the latter may prevent treatment compliance. The author suggests an alternative conceptualisation of PTSD, that does not appeal to a notion of arrested information processing but suggests instead that PTSD arises from a state of terrified surprise, (which is a combination of an exaggerated startle response and hypervigilance) which the person explains in terms of a hostile environment.},
 year = {2020}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Alternative Paradigm
AU  - Michael James Scott
Y1  - 2020/02/03
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20200901.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajap.20200901.11
T2  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
JF  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
JO  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
SP  - 1
EP  - 6
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5672
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20200901.11
AB  - Trauma focussed treatments for PTSD, have limited efficacy and utility. The purpose of this paper is to review a) the theoretical base of TFT’s, in particular the evidence that a flawed traumatic memory lies at the heart of the development of PTSD b) the evidence that a focus on the traumatic memory is a necessary part of the evidence based treatment of PTSD and c) to distil an alternative model of PTSD. The author reviews existing trauma focussed treatments to determine a) what may be the active ingredients for change and b) treatment acceptability. He suggests that it is not proven that the qualities of the traumatic memory are pivotal in the development and maintenance of PTSD. Psychogenic amnesia is not found to be significantly associated with outcome, compared to the bodily expressions of exaggerated startle response and hypervigilance. There appears no added value in re-living the traumatic event per se, rather the latter may prevent treatment compliance. The author suggests an alternative conceptualisation of PTSD, that does not appeal to a notion of arrested information processing but suggests instead that PTSD arises from a state of terrified surprise, (which is a combination of an exaggerated startle response and hypervigilance) which the person explains in terms of a hostile environment.
VL  - 9
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download