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Diagnosing Anxiety Disorder
 

ACUTE STRESS DISORDER

Acute stress disorder is similar in criteria and presentation to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms begin within four weeks of the trauma and last from two days to four weeks. As in PTSD, the patient with acute stress disorder experiences:

 

• severe stress that provokes fear, horror or helplessness
• re-experience of the event in some way
• a numbing of responsiveness
• symptoms of hyperarousal

 

As well, either during the event or just afterward, the patient has three or more symptoms of dissociation including:

 
• feelings of detachment, numbness or emotional unresponsiveness
• diminished awareness of surroundings (in a daze)
• depersonalization
• derealization
• amnesia for important aspects of the event

 

As in PTSD, acute stress disorder is accompanied by recollections of the event (dreams, flashbacks, images); a sense of reliving the event and distress in reaction to reminders of the event. Patients also avoid activities, conversations, feelings, people, places or thoughts reminiscent of the trauma, and there are marked symptoms of anxiety or hyperarousal.

In addition, at least one of the following reactions is present:

 
• marked distress as a result of the symptoms
• symptoms interfere with usual social job or personal functioning
• symptoms stop the patient from doing something important, such as getting medical help

 

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Over one million Canadians suffer from some form of depressive illness.