Question

Cordelia, an active duty marine, served in Afghanistan. While she was on patrol with her friend, an IED went off, killing her friend and injuring her. In the two months since her friend died, Cordelia has been jumpy, irritable, avoids talking about her friend, and once every few days experiences a flashback to the explosion. Cordelia is experiencing a ________ disorder.

mood
schizotypal personalityDifficulty: ModerateAPA Standard: 1.1, 1.3, 2.2
posttraumatic stress
antisocial personality

Answer 1

Cordelia is showing symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a severe anxiety disorder commonly experienced by veterans after exposure to traumatic events during military service.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cordelia, an active duty marine who served in Afghanistan and experienced severe psychological trauma, is exhibiting symptoms that are indicative of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). After witnessing the death of her friend and sustaining an injury from an IED explosion, she has been showing signs of PTSD such as being jumpy, irritable, avoiding discussions about her friend, and experiencing flashbacks to the traumatic event. These symptoms align with the known impacts of PTSD, a condition that many veterans face after exposure to traumatic events in military conflicts. It is essential for individuals displaying such symptoms to receive prompt mental health care to address the psychological damage caused by traumatic experiences.

Answer 2

Cordelia, an active duty marine who exhibits symptoms such as jumpiness, irritability, avoidance of trauma-related discussion, and flashbacks, is likely experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which is a response to severe psychological trauma.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cordelia, an active duty marine who served in Afghanistan, is described as being jumpy, irritable, avoiding discussions about a traumatic event, and experiencing flashbacks. This content loaded scenario suggests that Cordelia is likely suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which is an anxiety disorder that can occur following the experience of a traumatic event. PTSD was common among military personnel, such as American GIs during the Vietnam War, with symptoms including flashbacks, irritability, and an aversion to reminders of the trauma. The term 'disorder' can be contentious as some argue that these reactions are normal aftershocks of severe psychological trauma.

It's important to understand that PTSD is a serious condition that requires medical and therapeutic intervention. Early diagnoses were often missed or misunderstood, and this lack of timely treatment resulted in long-lasting effects on veterans' mental health. Treatment for PTSD often involves a combination of therapy and, in some cases, medication to help manage the symptoms.Given Cordelia's symptoms of being 'jumpy', irritable, avoiding talks about her late friend, and experiencing flashbacks, it is consistent with the acknowledged symptoms of PTSD that have affected many veterans historically and continue to impact those who have experienced severe psychological trauma.