Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (COD Lesson)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that often follows a severe traumatic event such as a natural disaster, surviving combat, rape, childhood neglect, abductions, airplane crashes, hostage situations, sexual or physical abuse, the death of a loved one in many others. This lesson outlines a wide variety of traumatic experiences. Between 25 and 42% of those seeking substance use treatment meet criteria for PTSD (Hensley and Coffey, 2010). Using alcohol and drugs as an attempt to self-medicate difficult emotions or to escape traumatic memories is very common and ends up complicating treatment for the substance use disorder and the mental health problem. Learn the symptoms of PTSD along with numerous suggestions and how to reduce and manage those symptoms. This skill building lesson includes a post-traumatic stress disorder questionnaire which measures the intensity and frequency of many of the PTSD symptoms.