Acute Stress Disorder Treatment - OmniMedicalSearch.com

Acute stress disorder affects the individual for the short term compared to other anxiety disorders. However, treatment is necessary in order to avoid long-term suffering. Left untreated, acute stress disorder can affect the individual's beliefs and meaning system, interpersonal relationships, normal functioning, and can even evolve into a long lasting trauma related condition called posttraumatic stress disorder.

The main two methods in treating acute stress disorder are: psychotherapy and medication.

There are several forms of psychotherapy that can be effective in treating acute stress disorder. Some of the psychotherapies used for individuals with acute stress disorder include: cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, therapeutic writing, psychological debriefing, psychoeducational therapy, and supportive therapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy seems to be one of the most effective forms of psychotherapy in treating acute stress disorder. This form of therapy focuses mainly on changing the dysfunctional cognitions developed in relation to the trauma and modifying behaviors engaged in during anxiety-provoking situations. The major advantages of cognitive behavioral therapy is that it ameliorates the symptoms and prevents the development of posttraumatic stress disorder. Approximately 80 percent of individuals diagnosed with acute stress disorder develop posttraumatic stress disorder. The main disadvantages is that if engaged too early into the therapeutic process, the individual can be deprived of absorbing the information or acquiring the new coping skill that result from the traumatic event due to the high levels of physiological arousal and anxiety.

Psychoeducational therapy is a variant of the cognitive behavioral therapy that proved to be effective in treating acute stress disorder. This form of therapy combines cognitive restructuring with exposure techniques and anxiety management methods to reduce the symptoms.

Supportive therapies include group and family therapy. The advantage of this form of therapy is that it creates a safe, warm and caring environment where individuals can share their experience and receive support and understanding. Narrating the experience in the form of a story allows the individual to comprehend the experience and to incorporate it into their overall life. Participating in a group or family therapy, the individual reduces their risk of social isolation.

Psychological debriefing is a psychological technique used with individuals that have experienced traumatic events. The purpose of this approach is to reduce the potential psychological harm caused by the trauma by informing the individual about what they experienced and allowing them to talk about it. Unfortunately, studies conducted on the efficiency of this form of therapy did not reveal enough supported data.

There are limited studies conducted on the efficiency of medication for individuals with acute stress disorder. Some benefits can be obtained by prescribing antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), or tricyclic antidepressants. Antidepressants can be prescribed when the acute stress disorders progresses to posttraumatic stress disorder.

Usually, the medication used for individuals with ASD targets individual symptoms such as hyperarousal (clonidine), anxiety or panic symptoms (propranolol, clonazepam, or alprazolam), avoidance symptoms (fluoxetine), and insomnia or nightmares (trazodone, topiramate).

Conditions & Diseases: Psychological & Mental Health

Acute Stress Disorder