Do
Other Illnesses Tend to Accompany PTSD?
Co-occurring depression, alcohol or other substance
abuse, or another anxiety disorder are not uncommon.
The likelihood of treatment success is increased when
these other conditions are appropriately identified
and treated as well.
Headaches,
gastrointestinal complaints, immune system problems,
dizziness, chest pain, or discomfort in other parts of
the body are common. Often, doctors treat the symptoms
without being aware that they stem from PTSD. NIMH
encourages primary care providers to ask patients
about experiences with violence, recent losses, and
traumatic events, especially if symptoms keep
recurring. When PTSD is diagnosed, referral to a
mental health professional who has had experience
treating people with the disorder is
recommended.
Who
Is Most Likely to Develop PTSD?
People
who have suffered abuse as children or who have had
other previous traumatic experiences are more likely
to develop the disorder. Research is continuing to
pinpoint other factors that may lead to PTSD.
It
used to be believed that people who tend to be
emotionally numb after a trauma were showing a healthy
response, but now some researchers suspect that people
who experience this emotional distancing may be more
prone to PTSD.
Source:
National Institute of Mental Health: Publication No.
OM-99 4157 (Revised)
Printed September 1999. Updated: October 05, 2001
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