Thread: Post traumatic stress disorder

Hi! My name is Andrea and I am a biochemist. I would like to know some information regarding my new boyfriend’s disease. I tried to talk to him about it but he is not willing to discuss his problem in detail. From what his mother told me he was diagnosed with PTSD because he was sexually abused by his uncle when he was 12 years old. He is now 26 years old, yet he still has some guilt reactions and sometimes he is very depressed. I looked on the internet to find some information regarding his problem but it did not seem to get me the results I want.
I am trying to help him, but he is not willing to talk about it.
I would like some answers to the following questions:
1) How is his condition usually called in medical terms ? Could you give me the usual medical terminology ?


2) What are the possible physiological conditions characterizing a person suffering from the problem he suffers ? Are there any, to begin with?

3). Could you give me some example of the drugs that are usually prescribed for his problem ? Which of these drugs cause adverse reactions, and what kind ?

4) If more than one drug is prescribed, what potential “bad” interactions would result?
Could you give me some examples, if these exists? I am referring to the medications usually prescribed by a psychiatrist.


5). What is the usual dosage of the drugs prescribed for his problem?



6) What kind of adverse reactions exist when the above drugs are taken (either separately or in combination with other drugs)? What are the medical terms used to describe them?

7) Normally , what are the lab tests usually indicate about his condition ? What is the scientific terminology used to describe his condition?

8) In what ways do the reactions to medications (if they exist) evolve? How long do they take?

Thank you.

Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is usually the term used to describe his condition which is caused by a severe traumatic event such as victims of child abuse. Treatment of complex PTSD frequently requires more than simple trauma-focused therapy. Best option is to consult a health care specialist on how the patient would be treated.


Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD = Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
As the name suggests, is developed when a person has been through a traumatic event or events in their life.
Please refer to the DSM - IV TR for the diagnostic criteria a person needs to meet before being diagnosed as having PTSD. Symptoms like flash backs - that is when the person is triggered to reliving the traumatic event as though it is really happening again. Can be triggered by almost anything from a smell, something the person hears or sees...
A lot of post war soldiers suffer from this.
Major depressive disorder or anxiety disorder (be it general or social) can usually be a comorbidity.
With regards to what medications... it is best to consult a psychiatrist as usually medication regimes are very much individualistic.
Treatment usually works best when there is a combination of psychology and medical input.

Hope this helps.
8)