Cordelia, an active duty marine, served in Afghanistan. While she was on patrol with her friend, an IED went off, killing her friend and injuring Cordelia’s left arm. In the two months since her friend died, Cordelia has been jumpy, irritable, avoids talking about her friend, and once every few days experiences a flashback to the explosion. Cordelia is experiencing __ disorder.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Cordelia is experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Her symptoms—such as flashbacks, irritability, jumpiness (hypervigilance), avoidance of reminders of the trauma (like avoiding talking about her friend), and emotional numbness—are all characteristic of PTSD.
PTSD is a condition commonly seen in military personnel due to the intense and life-threatening experiences they may endure in combat zones. In Cordelia’s case, the traumatic event was the death of her friend and her own injury caused by an improvised explosive device (IED). These events serve as psychological trauma that can deeply affect her emotional and psychological well-being.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), PTSD includes four key symptom clusters:
- Intrusion symptoms, such as flashbacks or nightmares.
- Avoidance, where the individual avoids places, people, or discussions that remind them of the trauma.
- Negative changes in mood and thoughts, such as guilt, depression, or detachment.
- Hyperarousal, like irritability, being easily startled, or having trouble sleeping.
To meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD, symptoms must last for more than one month and cause significant distress or impairment. Since Cordelia has been experiencing these symptoms for about two months, and they are clearly interfering with her functioning, she meets the criteria.
PTSD is treatable with therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and sometimes medications like SSRIs. Early intervention can significantly improve outcomes.
Cordelia would benefit from professional mental health support to process the trauma and develop strategies for managing her symptoms. Recognizing PTSD is a critical step toward healing and recovery.