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

Visual explanation — Related Visual
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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