Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Psychiatric Conditions
Overview-Hello, chose your own topic from this one below. Follow rubrics to pass. Thank you!
The purpose of this Assessment is to provide you with an opportunity to examine a real-world topic in psychology and analyze how theory provides a better understanding of the topic. Your Performance Task Assessment is based on the comparison of two theories as they relate to a topic of your choosing.
Submission Length: A 6- to 7-page research paper (not including title page and references)
Professional Skills: Information Literacy and Written Communication are assessed in this Competency.
This Assessment requires submission of one (1) document that includes your research document, title, and references. Save this file as PT003_firstinitial_lastname (for example, PT003_J_Smith).
When you are ready to upload your completed Assessment, use the Assessment tab on the top navigation menu.
Instructions
Before submitting your Assessment, carefully review the Rubric. This is the same rubric the assessor will use to evaluate your submission, and it provides detailed criteria describing how to achieve or master the competency. Many students find that understanding the requirements of the Assessment and the Rubric criteria help them direct their focus and use their time most productively.
Rubric
For this Performance Task Assessment, you will examine a real-world topic in psychology and evaluate how theory provides a better understanding of the topic.For this Performance Task Assessment, choose one of the following topics:
1. Habits (their development and/or perpetuation)
2. Risk-taking behavior
3. Academic achievement (success and/or challenges)
4. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
5. Healthy intimate relationships
6. Group affiliations (e.g., religious, political, friendships, special interests)
7. Pain management
8. Occupational success and/or challenges
9. Stereotypes (e.g., gender, racial, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status)
If you wish to propose a topic different from what is on the list, please message your Faculty SME for approval.
Select two psychological theories and consider how they relate to the topic you chose. Based on the theories you selected, search the Walden Library for at least four scholarly articles that include at least two unique articles for each theory you selected.
Part 1: Introduction: Theory and Topic Selection (1 page)
1. Describe both theories you selected, and why you think they are appropriate for the topic you chose.
2. Compare the theories, related to the topic you chose
3. Argue which theory provides a better understanding of the topic.
4. Explain how psychological research, grounded in these two theories, helped you better understand the characteristics of the topic.
Part 2: Psychological Theories (4 pages)
1. Explain the origins and development of your topic.
2. Explain how each theory can be used to develop strategies or programs to benefit human development relevant to your topic.
3. Explain how each theory, you chose, addresses the cultural differences or diversity considerations relevant to your topic.
4. Explain how the theories, you chose, meet the characteristics of a good theory relevant to your topic. Justify your explanation with evidence from your resources.
Part 3: Research and Social Change (1–2 pages)
1. Explain how the research, related to your topic, can be used to promote positive social change.
2. Explain how research fits into your personal vision as an agent for positive social change.
Research on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Course Name and Number
Lecturer’s Name
Assignment Due Date
Research on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Part 1: Introduction
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common anxiety disorder that occurs after a traumatic event and comorbid with psychiatric conditions, such as substance abuse, depression, and anxiety disorders. Low quality of life and poor functioning are the critical characteristics of PTSD, thus understanding the condition for effective treatment. Equally, research findings reveal the need to evaluate theoretical models of the disease. PTSD is associated with disturbances in coping strategies, social support, attention, memory, and cognitive functions. Cognitive-behavioral theory and emotional processing theory have a close connection to post-traumatic stress disorder as one of the prevailing issues in society.
The cognitive-behavioral theory is one of the unique approaches in psychology that helps in explaining human behavior based on an understanding of thought processes. The primary assumption of the idea is that thoughts are the significant determinants of behavior and emotions. According to the theorist, PTSD condition becomes persistent if individuals process traumatic events in a way that can lead to severe threats (Meichenbaum, 2017). On the contrary, emotional processing theorists propose that exposure to traumatic events can alter the connectedness between networks and fear stimulus. According to the theory, associative networks activate fear feelings among the victims. The approach applies to the treatment of PTSD in addressing the associated difficulties.
Emotional processing theorist informs the conceptualization of various anxiety disorders and formulation of effective treatment of such conditions, including PTSD. According to Meichenbaum (2017), exposure to traumatic events can alter the connectedness between associative networks and fear stimulus. Cognitive and behavioral avoidance results in the persistence of pathological fear. Similarly, the cognitive-behavioral theory focuses on the connectedness between feelings, behaviors, and thoughts and ways that change in one domain can enhance the functioning of others. For instance, a change of irrelevant thinking can result in healthy behaviors and strengthen the regulation of emotions. Therefore, knowledge of cognitive-behavioral theory can help target current problems and symptoms that might affect individuals' well-being. Thus, emotional processing theory provides a comprehensive understanding of PTSD.
Part 2: Psychological Theories
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition that can develop in individuals after experiencing a life-threatening event. People with such experiences might tend to keep away from events that remind them of traumatic events in the past. Psychological trauma is the primary cause of PTSD as a result of emotional and physical abuse. Natural disasters, Illnesses, violent assaults, and rape are some of the events that might cause trauma. The people living with PTSD have anger issues and other related emotional problems. As a result, they are likely to develop suicidal thoughts and be disconnected from the people. PTSD affects effective interactions between individuals and their daily lives. Therefore, the victims work less efficiently with people and are likely to miss some days at work.
PTSD is one of the common psychiatric disorders that occur due to experiencing life-threatening and traumatic events. The condition has profound psychobiological correlates that can impair an individual’s life. Following the increased occurrence of traumatic events, such as terrorism, serious accidents, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and exposure to environmental toxins, PTSD has become a severe public health concern. Cognitive and behavioral therapy are some of the events offered to address post-traumatic stress disorder. Therefore, cognitive-behavioral theory and emotional processing theory can be critical in enhancing the well-being of people living with PTSD.
The cognitive-behavioral theory is critical in developing strategies for enhancing the well-being of people with PTSD. The theory’s key focus is on the relationship between feelings, behaviors, and feelings to facilitate changing behaviors. According to the concept, people living with PTSD can develop associations among safe reminders, such as people, situations, and stories (David et al., 2018). The key objective is to revere the conditions that lead to unhealthy functioning. The theory relates to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a treatment effective for many problems, including depressive symptoms. CBT leads to a notable improvement in overall quality of life. The treatment is effective than any other form of psychiatric function.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy approaches are based on the critical principle that a person’s cognitions play a fundamental role in developing and maintaining emotional responses to life situations. In CBT models, cognitive processes in assumptions, judgments, and appraisals, with various life events are the major determinants of an individual’s actions and feelings. According to David et al. (2018), CBT entails a wide range of approaches that have been efficacious in addressing the underlying issues of post-traumatic stress disorder. One of the central assumptions of a cognitive-behavioral theory is that cognitive content and processes are accessible. An equally relevant assumption is that therapists can target, modify, and change cognitions.
Similarly, emotional processing theory can help develop programs that can facilitate the human development of people with PTSD. The model proposes that exposure to traumatic events can alter the connectedness between fear stimulus and networks. Emotional processing theory can help elaborate the connectedness between PTSD and knowledge available before the occurrence of the trauma (Craik, 2020). According to the dynamic processing theory, repeated relieving can enhance the habituation of fear concerning trauma memory while countering the belief that anxiety is permanent. Equally, the approach can help prevent negative reinforcement of trauma memory among people living with PTSD. In such a case, people can avoid discriminating against people living with PTSD and treat the condition as just a common disorder. Repeated relief can help in generating organized memory that can be easier to integrate with the memory system.
Emotional processing theory is one of the highly effective models of treating PTSD. The model helps predict the outcome of exposure treatment concerning the activation of fear between the various session habituations. Sustained habituation is a crucial indicator of improvement in fear activation. People with PTSD realize improvements through the reduction of anxi...