Acute stress disorder is a an acute stress reaction that occurs within the first 4 weeks after a traumatic stress event. Some examples may be vehicular accident, sexual assault, robbery etc.
The difference between ASD and PTSD is that PTSD is diagnosed after 4 weeks.
Adjustment disorder is a state of stress that interferes with social functioning after a period of adaptation to a significant life change/stressful event such as bereavement or separation. However, the stressor is not severe or outside of the normal human experience. For example, losing your job or having a family member pass away.
ASD is after an exceptional physical/mental stressor that is considered “abnormal” to the typical human experience.
😷 Presentation
DSM-V breaks it down into 5 categories:
- Intrusive thoughts - nightmares and flashbacks.
- Dissociation - feeling out of it, and slowing of time.
- Negative mood
- Avoidance - efforts to avoid distressing memories, thoughts or feelings associated with the event.
- Arousal - hypervigilance, insomnia, irritability, lack of concentration, easily startled.
🧰 Management
- 🥇 Trauma-focused CBT - first-line. should be considered in adults with acute traumatic stress symptoms that are causing significant impairment in daily functioning.
- Benzodiazepines - sometimes used for the acute anxiety symptoms such as agitation and sleep-disturbance. Should not be used long term due to addictive potential. NICE also does not recommend to prevent PTSD.