Acute Stress Disorder - Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment

What Is Acute Stress Disorder?

Acute stress disorder is also known as an acute stress reaction, psychological shock, mental shock, or shock. Acute stress disorder is a mental health disorder; it is an unpleasant, severe chain reaction triggered after an individual goes through a traumatic event. In the weeks following a traumatic event, an individual develops psychological and anxiety symptoms and disorders; the symptoms last for a bare minimum of a month or less. When the symptoms persist for longer than a month, the patient might have developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Acute stress disorder is a relatively common condition; occupational exposure to stress and traumatic events makes it difficult to rely on and live a considerably stable life. Reaching out for help is a crucial step for the individual, as troubling symptoms can lead to a more complicated disorder.

What Are the Types of Acute Stress Disorder?

Acute stress disorder is broadly classified into two types:

1. Sympathetic Acute Stress Disorder -

Sympathetic acute stress disorder is also known as fight or flight response. It is caused by the release of hormones (adrenaline and norepinephrine) into the brain. The hormones adrenaline or norepinephrine are responsible for increasing the pulse and respiratory rate and masking or overcoming the pain. The fight or flight response of an individual allows an enhanced physical output in a distraught time (even though temporarily).

As sympathetic acute stress disorder plays a vital role while stuck in a traumatic event, it becomes difficult for the health professional to make a diagnosis at that time as it increases the hormone level and masks the pain, leading to a false diagnosis.

2. Parasympathetic Acute Stress Disorder -

Parasympathetic acute stress disorder is flagged off as the feeling of nausea and unconsciousness (feeling faint). This is a chain reaction triggered by blood (often sight but sometimes smell too). During a stressful event or a traumatic event, the body releases a hormone (acetylcholine). With studies and experiments, it has been proven that sympathetic and parasympathetic reactions work in opposite ways, as they reduce or decrease the heart rate and often lead to temporary loss of consciousness.

What Causes Acute Stress Disorder?

The cause of acute stress disorder lies with the name stress. The prime causative factor of the disorder is stress, but certain other factors can also lead to acute stress disorder to occur; they are:

• Traumatic event (near-death experience or death of a family member).

• Positive history of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

• History of other mental illnesses.

• Serious injury caused during a traumatic event.

• Natural disasters.

• History of physical or sexual harassment and assault, rape, or domestic violence.

• History of chronic or life-threatening diseases.

What Are the Symptoms of Acute Stress Disorder?

Symptoms of acute stress disorder involve stress. However, certain other symptoms are also seen in both sympathetic and parasympathetic acute stress disorder. These symptoms are seen precariously in acute stress disorder before it develops into post-traumatic stress disorder. They are:

1. Showcasing problematic behaviors like hopelessness, worthlessness, and worry.

2. Marked hyperarousal behavior such as panic attacks, rage, irritability, and aggression.

3. Difficulty controlling emotions.

4. Numbness in the extremities.

5. Individuals show dissociative symptoms such as derealization disorders, depersonalization

disorder, and amnesia.

6. Sleeping disorders (nightmares, night terrors, sleepwalking, and insomnia).

7. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

8. Substance dependence or misuse (alcohol or drugs).

9. Feeling of detachment from family or surroundings.

10. Recurring images, illusions, and flashbacks of the traumatic event.

11. Individual avoids people, conversations, places, objects, and feelings, reminding them of the trauma or the said traumatic event.

12. Difficulty concentrating.

13. Feeling of fatigue (due to being on guard or tense).

14. Persistently in a negative mood.

15. A sense of impending doom.

16. Unexpected episodes of outbursts or crying.

17. Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia nervosa, binge eating, and rumination disorder).

18. Unexplained weight loss.

How Does Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Vary From Acute Stress Disorder?

The duration of symptoms is the primary distinction between acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Stress reactions that take place three days to four weeks after a stressful event are known as acute stress disorder. Reactions to stress that continue longer than four weeks could be PTSD-related.

Is Acute Stress Disorder Common?

Researchers find it challenging to determine the prevalence of acute stress disorder.

Studies have shown that between six percent and 33 % of people experience acute stress disorder after a traumatic event. Additionally, the rates vary depending on the kind of trauma. For instance, ASD rates are lower in those who survived accidents or natural catastrophes. ASD rates are higher in victims of violent crimes, such as assaults and mass shootings.

What Are the Risk Factors for Developing Acute Stress Disorder?

Risk factors for acute stress disorder could include:

• Past mental health history, including any traumatic experiences.

• Avoidant coping behavior.

• The support system is minimal.

How to Diagnose Someone With Acute Stress Disorder?

A licensed medical health care professional needs to make an official diagnosis of acute stress disorder to help the individual suffering. It is important to rule out other conditions so as to not make a false judgment or a false diagnosis. Conditions to rule out are:

• Substance abuse or misuse (alcohol or drug).

• Side effects due to medications.

• Other mental illnesses or disorders.

• Underlying medical conditions.

A licensed healthcare provider can diagnose acute stress disorder with the help of a psychologist, psychiatrist, or counselor. They prepare a questionnaire, asking about the general symptoms and conditions of the patient. The duration of the symptoms is important. If the symptoms are present for a month or less, then it falls under the category of acute stress disorder. However, the duration of symptoms exceeding a month or more falls under the category of post-traumatic stress disorder.

What Is the Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder?

An individual suffering from acute stress disorder should visit a licensed healthcare professional as the severity of the symptoms might increase, leading to a complicated personal and professional life. A healthcare professional might suggest the following treatment options to treat acute stress disorder:

• Psychiatric evaluation to determine mental stability.

• In case of self-harming tendencies or behavior, hospitalization is required.

• Medication in case of severe anxiety (such as antianxiety, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and antidepressants).

• Therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) help patients talk about their condition, issues, and traumatic events.

Conclusion:

There is no definite way to escape trauma or stress; however, a more productive way to express stress is useful in the long run and helps to reduce the likelihood of developing acute stress disorder. People suffering from acute stress disorder have difficulty in their personal and professional lives. In their personal life, they have difficulty maintaining relationships due to persistent anxiety, stress, and sometimes depression. In professional life, individuals have difficulty concentrating and creating a calm, composed demeanor.

Acute stress disorder often develops into post-traumatic stress disorder, with symptoms worsening and the duration of the symptoms exceeding the one-month mark. Getting suitable treatment for acute stress disorder is crucial as getting an appropriate treatment may prevent the disorder from worsening and developing into post-traumatic stress disorder. Acute stress disorder is a treatable condition when proper measures are taken to treat the said disorder.