Abstract

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that is affecting many lives and families. Since it is believed that over 50% of Americans will experience a traumatic event and 25% will experience multiple traumatic events, PTSD is an issue that cannot be overlooked. Although PTSD is most commonly associated with war victims, the official definition of PTSD was stated in the DSM-IV as "an extreme traumatic stressor involving direct personal experience or that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury or other threat to one's physical integrity; or witness to an event that involves death, injury, or a threat to the integrity of another person..." This definition shows that PTSD can be generalized to not only war victims but to anyone who has a traumatic experience.This study shows 82% of the participants are likely to experience PTSD if exposed to a traumatic event. This study provides a pre-screen of traits that likely lead to PTSD, in hopes to raise awareness and provide a potential cure and preventative measure in the future. Current forms of treatment include cognitive therapy; however, there is no solution. The usage of simulations such as Virtual Reality Exposure (VRE) could provide both a treatment but also a preventative measure.

Notes

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Thesis Completion

2011

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Hancock, Peter A.

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College

College of Sciences

Degree Program

Psychology

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Sciences;Sciences -- Dissertations, Academic

Format

PDF

Identifier

CFH0003850

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Document Type

Honors in the Major Thesis

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Included in

Psychology Commons

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