Clinical And Forensic Implications Of Post-traumatic Stress
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychopathology that arises as a consequence of going through traumatic moments and whose symptoms can remain damaging the person’s quality of life for years or even decades; In fact, there are not rare occasions in which a trauma originating in childhood conditions the way of being and feeling of the person once they have entered the stage of adulthood.
Due to its characteristics, PTSD or is it simply a mental health problem; In many cases it has forensic implications that must be reflected in expert reports to ensure that judicial processes (civil or criminal) are carried out with the maximum amount of information possible.
In this type of case, psychological professionals contribute their experience and knowledge to study a case and, without taking sides, write down what they have been able to observe about the possible causes and extent of a disorder such as PTSD.
This alteration occurs in the face of traumatic events that change the person’s life.
Post-traumatic stress is a psychological affectation that occurs in some people who experience or live through a traumatic situation of any kind at any stage of life.
All traumatic situations generate a strong emotional imbalance in the person who experiences them; However, in some cases the affected person continues to experience symptoms of fear, stress or terror; This is when we are faced with a case of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Mental health professionals believe that The appearance of post-traumatic stress occurs due to a combination of causes and predispositions of both a biological and psychosocial nature ; However, this alteration is usually triggered by present or past experiences that generated a strong level of discomfort in the person.
Currently, the treatment for PTSD has several years of scientific research behind it and Effective treatments have been developed to help those who suffer from it The intervention for this type of case is usually psychological therapy, pharmacological therapy or a combination of both.
Causes
There are several risk factors that can lead to the appearance of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, although ultimately these vary from one person to another. according to your needs, your personality and your cultural and life context
Some of the most notable risk factors are: having gone through dangerous circumstances during childhood (such as cases of violence, sexual abuse or recurrent abuse); observing a catastrophic or very violent event (related to violence or death) going through a long traumatic event linked to the death of a loved one or not having the necessary social or family support after said event.
In addition to that, other factors that can precipitate the onset of PTSD are experience additional stressful situations after the traumatic event and have a personal or family history mental illness or substance use.
Symptoms or psychological effects
The symptoms associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can last several years and also vary between people, however, the most common can be grouped into 4 types:
1. Symptoms of revival
These consist of returning to reliving the past traumatic event (sometimes exaggerated and magnified through imagination, other times not) in the form of “flashbacks” very vivid nightmares or disturbing intrusive thoughts.
Its about avoid situations, thoughts or physical places that they remember the traumatic event experienced.
3. Symptoms of hypervigilance and reactivity
Those symptoms caused by nervousness and states of constant vigilance or alert Some examples may be difficulty sleeping, startles, and angry outbursts.
4. Cognitive and Mood Symptoms
They are those negative changes at the cognitive or belief level Some examples are thoughts of guilt, negative thoughts about oneself related to the traumatic event, problems concentrating, or losing interest in hobbies prior to the event.
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When is it necessary to carry out expert and clinical reports on a PTSD case in a judicial process?
Sometimes, it is important to analyze the forensic repercussions of both the PTSD symptoms themselves and the situations that can be considered causes or triggers of this psychological alteration. We must not forget that post-traumatic stress It is a phenomenon that often arises due to episodes of violence and accidents resulting from negligence
Thus, some of the forensic implications of PTSD that can be explored through an expert examination process regarding the causes of the disorder are the following:
Has PTSD arisen from the dynamics of domestic violence, child abuse, bullying, mobbing, sexual abuse or other forms of physical or psychological violence?
Has PTSD arisen from accidents caused by another person not complying with road safety regulations?
Has PTSD arisen from negligence in the context of workplace risk prevention?
On the other hand, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder also has clinical and forensic implications. regarding its consequences Let’s look at some of the most important ones:
Can an altered state of consciousness triggered by PTSD explain a person’s criminal behavior?
Does PTSD make a person unable to work in their professional field?
Does PTSD have implications for a person’s ability to care for dependent family members?
To what extent has this disorder damaged and continues to damage the person’s quality of life?
