Acute Stress Disorder

Acute Stress Disorder Causes and Risk Factors

Data regarding acute stress disorder is limited due to the fact that this disorder was only formally recognized in 1994, and the studies conducted on this subject are considered "just the beginning." However, it is known that the main cause of acute stress disorder is exposure to severe trauma. A traumatic event is a highly unpredictable and unpleasant incident that involves actual or perceived threatened death, physical harm, serious injury or threat to the physical integrity of self or others, and is accompanied by intense feelings of distress, fear, horror, and helplessness.

According to the available studies, acute stress disorder seems to be associated with severe traumatic events. Among survivors of motor vehicle accidents, 13 to 21 percent of these individuals develop acute stress disorder, while 19 to 33 percent of the victims of violent assaults develop the disorder. Approximately 7 percent of typhoon survivors and 6 percent of the victims of industrial accidents develop acute stress disorder.

There are several risk factors that increase the risk of developing acute stress disorder:

• Age: Acute stress disorder seems to be more common among young people. Young people lack the experience to cope with highly stressful events.
• Prior psychological problems: The risk of developing acute stress disorder increases when the individual suffers from depression or has been previously treated for posttraumatic stress disorder.
• Prior exposure to trauma: Individuals that were abused or experienced trauma in the past have an increased risk to develop acute stress disorder when they encounter a highly traumatic event. During trauma, the brain undergoes chemical changes due to an increased amount of hormones released in the brain. When exposed to multiple trauma, long-lasting chemical changes can affect the brain by increasing the risk of developing severe trauma related symptoms.
• Support networks: There are indicators that individuals that have a network of close friends and relatives tend to be less affected by acute stress disorder.
• Perception and attitude towards life: Individuals that perceive the traumatic event as a punishment or have a negative or pessimistic attitude towards life seem to display a higher risk to develop acute stress disorder.

Article by Alina Morrow
MS Psychology
Medical Writer
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