Question

A patient's wife reports to the nurse that she was told her husband's PTSD may be related to cognitive problems. She is asking the nurse to explain what that means. Which of the following are accurate statements about the cognitive theory as it applies to PTSD? Select all that apply.

1) People are vulnerable to trauma-related disorders when their fundamental beliefs are invalidated.
2) Cognitive theory addresses the importance of how people think (or cognitively appraise) events.
3) Dementia is a common symptom of PTSD.
4) Amnesia is the biggest cognitive problem in PTSD and is the primary cause of trauma-related disorders.

Answer 1

The cognitive theory of PTSD recognizes that cognitive processes can maintain the symptoms of PTSD, not that amnesia is its biggest problem. Memory issues and the distressing vividness of flashbacks are significant in PTSD, and the cognitive model suggests that the processing and appraisal of traumatic events are crucial to the disorder's maintenance.

Step-by-step explanation:

The cognitive theory as it applies to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suggests that certain cognitive processes can maintain the symptoms of PTSD. It is inaccurate to say that amnesia is the biggest cognitive problem in PTSD and is the primary cause of trauma-related disorders. However, problems with memory, such as the fragmentation of traumatic memories or the distressing vividness of flashbacks, can be significant in PTSD.

Within this cognitive model, as proposed by Ehlers and Clark, the way a person processes the traumatic event - including how the memory of the event is stored and their subsequent appraisal of the trauma - plays a crucial role. For instance, the belief that the world is entirely dangerous can heighten a sense of threat and exacerbate PTSD symptoms. The Atkinson-Shiffrin model suggests information passes through sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Faulty encoding during any of these stages, potentially due to trauma, might lead to issues like recall problems or intrusive recollections.

Moreover, the arousal theory posits that strong emotions during a traumatic event can create strong, sometimes intrusive memories. These cognitive disturbances have implications for how PTSD might be treated, with therapies often focusing on altering trauma-related thought patterns and memory processes to lessen symptoms.