Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD)
Joey Chuang and Jaclyn Fraser
Presentation Outline
• What is PTSD?
• Causes of PTSD
• Onset and Duration of PTSD
• Effects of PTSD
• Symptoms in Children
• Treatment Modalities
• Exercise Benefits
• Goals for Exercise Prescription
• Behaviour Change Techniques
• Sport Intervention for PTSD
Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder
• One of several conditions known as an anxiety disorder
• Effects approximately 1/10 people – among one of the most common
mental health problems
• Occurs after living through or seeing a psychologically traumatic
event, such as war, sexual assault, physical abuse, or a bad accident
• Stressors cause anxiety, making it difficult to lead a normal life
Causes of PTSD
Experiencing a psychologically or physically overwhelmingly
traumatic, upsetting or dangerous
• Being victim of or seeing violence
• Warfare (i.e. military)
• Natural disasters
• Violent crimes, robbery or shooting
• Don’t have to be physically injured
• Witnessing someone getting hurt or dying I.e. friend family
member or stranger
Onset and Duration
• Depends on individual
• Type of traumatic event
• May start soon after the event or several months to years later
• Usually symptoms begin within first 1 to 3 months
• Duration and strength of symptoms vary – may be able to
recover within 6 months
Effects of PTSD
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Drug or alcohol addiction
• Trouble sleeping or nightmares
• Having uncontrollable scary thoughts or flashbacks
• Angry outbursts
• Feeling alone
• Feeling on-edge, worried, guilty or sad
• Avoiding places that evoke memories of the incident
• Having thoughts of hurting yourself or others
Symptoms in Children
• Headaches
• Stomach aches
• Inability to talk
• Antisocial
behaviour
Treatment Modalities
• Talk therapy
• Cognitive behavioural therapy
• Psychodynamic psychotherapy
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EDMR)
• Group psychotherapy
• Pharmaceuticals
• Treatment lasts 6 to 12 weeks. For some people, it takes longer
Exercise of PTSD
• Reduced symptoms of PTSD
• Improvements in physical health, mood and self-efficacy in physical fitness
• Social component of exercise = feelings of belonging
• Study on Veterans
•
•
•
Exercise reduced thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts
Exercise indirectly reduces PTSD symptoms
Exercise relates to decrease in suicide risk through improvements in sleep quality
• Study on 911 Word Trade Center Firefighters
•
Decreased exercise correlated to reduced likelihood of recovery from PTSD
O.F.I.T.T Exercise Prescription
• ACSM recommends individuals with PTSD to reach the standards of
physical activity for the general population
• 150 min of moderate-vigorous intensity aerobic exercise per week
• Either 30-60 min of moderate intensity exercise 5 days a week
• Or 20-60 min of vigorous intensity exercise 3 days a week
• Running / Cycling
O.F.I.T.T Exercise Prescription
Resistance Training
• Resistance Training – 2-3x / week
Examples:
o 3 sets of 15-20 reps start with muscular endurance exercises
o Machine based → free-weight (learn technique and form first)
o Cable Crossover: chest, traps, lats, biceps, triceps, deltoids
o Leg press: quads, hamstrings and calves
The Trainer’s Role
•
•
•
Information and instrumental support
Emotional Support
Companionship
**Ask participant for feedback -Let them feel like they are
contributing and in command of themselves
Behaviour Change Techniques (BCT)
• Include BCT with exercise program:
• Barrier identification
• Use positive reinforcement
• Set Specific goals
• Share behavior change goals with others
• Incorporate self-monitoring and feedback system
• Plan ‘if-then’ coping strategies to prevent relapse
Sport Intervention for PTSD
• Physical activity is found to reduce symptoms of PTSD
• Sports may alleviate symptoms of PTSD by helping build selfconfidence, self discipline, body awareness, teamwork and
communication skills
• Not yet determined, due to lack of evidence