Question

Help please

After witnessing a brutal murder of four bank guards 3 months ago, Laura continues to have nightmares and jumps at any loud noise. At the health clinic where you work, she tells you that she does not sleep well at night and cannot stop thinking about the traumatic event.

1. If Laura is diagnosed with PTSD, identify other signs and symptoms you might notice.
2. Besides her symptoms, what would you include in your assessment in order to plan effective interventions for Laura?
3. What type of therapeutic communication interview techniques would you use? Why did you choose these?
4. List three interventions, besides medications, that have been found to help patients with PTSD.
5. What medication might alleviate her symptoms?

Answer 1

The other symptoms which can be noticed are

• Anxious ,agitated ,irritable even for smaller things
• Depressed,fear ,emotional disturbances by remembering the incident
• Social isolation like never participating in a celebration, events or gatherings
• A sense of mistrust is expected

●Assess patient that what makes her feel secured ,and ensure that is there with the patient throughout the treatment

●A MSE can help to assess her psychological status

●Impact of event scale can assess how intensely she is affected

The therapeutic communication like

• Giving her a sense of hope ,that she can be relieved from the problem and remove the mistrust on self and others
• Respond to patient complaints ,reflecting is a method where patient themselves find solutions for their problems
• An active listening makes the patient come out with all complaints
• Do not argue or raise the voice when communicating because this can trigger anxiety
• Mark an eye contact while communicating

The intervention which can help her are

• Cognitive behaviour therapy
• Exposure and response prevention is a better way where they come across the event ,try to manage to come out without negative symptoms
• Eye movement desensitization

Medication

• Anti anxiety to relive her fear ,anxiousness
• Mild Sedative -hypnotic to ensure a good sleep in night
• Selective seratonin reuptake inhibitor to relieve depression