RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2023
Psychiatric Nursing
Easy

Post traumatic stress disorder is because of

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2023

Explanation

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is, by definition, a psychiatric disorder triggered by exposure to a major traumatic or life-threatening event.
  • Diagnostic criteria require that an individual has experienced, witnessed, or been confronted with an event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence.
  • The core feature is the development of characteristic symptoms following this exposure, such as flashbacks, avoidance, and hyperarousal.
  • Examples of such traumatic events include military combat, violent personal assault, natural disasters, and severe accidents.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: A vascular accident, or stroke, is a medical condition affecting blood flow to the brain. While experiencing a stroke can be psychologically traumatic, it is not the defining etiological event for PTSD in the way a life-threatening external event is.
  • Option C: Minor stresses, such as daily hassles or common life challenges, do not have the severity required to precipitate PTSD. The disorder is specifically linked to extreme, overwhelming trauma.
  • Option D: A head injury is a physical trauma to the brain. While it can occur during the same event that leads to PTSD (e.g., a car accident), PTSD is the psychological reaction to the event, not a direct physiological result of the brain injury itself.

Related Visual

Illustrating the key brain regions amygdala, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex involved in the PTSD response, showing how trauma alters their function and connectivity.
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Etiology of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • Nurses must conduct trauma-informed assessments, as many patients in various healthcare settings may have a history of trauma that impacts their current health and behavior.
  • It is crucial to create a safe, predictable, and non-judgmental environment for patients with PTSD to foster trust and facilitate care.
  • PTSD has a high rate of comorbidity with depression, anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders, requiring comprehensive screening and integrated treatment plans.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the core concept of the question, which is the cause (etiology) of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
  • Recall the definition of PTSD. The name itself provides a clue: it is a disorder related to 'trauma'.
  • Analyze each option to see which one fits the definition of a traumatic event severe enough to cause PTSD.
  • Eliminate 'Minor stress' as it is, by definition, not severe enough.
  • Differentiate between physical conditions and the psychological trigger. 'Vascular accident' and 'Head injury' are medical/physical events. While they can be part of a traumatic experience, PTSD is the psychological response to the life-threatening nature of the situation.
  • Select 'Major life threatening events' as it is the most accurate and direct cause according to the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Etiology of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Stem keywords: Post traumatic stress disorder, because of
  • Lead-in keywords: BEST, MOST RELEVANT CLUE
  • Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

Q2cyqHFSmrjXUBmusbxlQo

Reference Book

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 4 p. 61-63

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 6003-6005, 7808-7810

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