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6 Keys to Resilience for PTSD and Everyday Stress: Teach Patients Protective Attitudes and Behaviors

2007; Frontline Medical Communications; Volume: 6; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

1537-8276

Margaret Haglund, Nicole S. Cooper, Steven M. Southwick, Dennis S. Charney,

Resilience and Mental Health

Ms. M, age 24, works as a magazine editor in New York City. On a December evening, she walks out of the subway and heads to her boyfriend's apartment, looking forward to unloading her heavy bag and checking her e-mail. Out of nowhere, a man runs up behind her and smashes a huge rock into her head. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] She feels momentarily disconnected from her body and surroundings but manages to scream. As the assailant runs away, 2 girls rush to her aid. Ms. M hurts everywhere. Her glasses have been knocked off, and her orbit is fractured; her eye will require multiple surgeries. She reaches for her cell phone, but it's slippery with blood. A bystander dials 911, and paramedics arrive within minutes. Most persons experience trauma during their lives, (1) but not usually an attack as severe as Ms. M's. Posttraumatic disorder (PTSD) and other psychopathologies are not inevitable or even common, however, developing in 8% to 12% of trauma survivors. (2) Why are some individuals more resilient to trauma than others? Resilience to is associated consistently with at least 6 psychosocial factors: active coping styles, regular physical exercise, a positive outlook, a moral compass, social support, and cognitive flexibility (Table 1, page 24). This article describes how motivated persons can enhance these factors to become more resistant to everyday stressors and unexpected traumas. 1 Active coping style Resilience is the process of adapting well to or trauma (Box 1, page 27). (3-5) Learning to manage stressful situations requires active coping, which can be conceptualized as 2 types: * (working to solve the problem) * (accepting and dealing with emotions caused by the stressor). Many studies have correlated active coping with emotional well-being. A 2003 study of first-year medical students found that using problem-focused or emotion-focused coping techniques helped preserve physical and mental health during 1 year of medical school. (6) In contrast, depressed persons tend to use passive coping styles, including denial and avoiding problems, substance abuse, and resignation. (7) Undertaking and mastering difficult tasks appears to be effective in increasing resilience to stress. The stress inoculation hypothesis (Box 2, page 28) (8-11) provides a plausible explanation for the observation that children who learn to cope with tend to become hardy adults. Successfully overcoming challenges improves self-confidence and also may alter the neurobiology of the response. Prolonged-exposure therapy. PTSD development and maintenance depend in part on fear conditioning. By avoiding exposure to reminders of their trauma, survivors unwittingly solidify associations between traumatic triggers (people, places, or things that are reminders) and fear. Actively facing fears is necessary to break these associations. Prolonged-exposure therapy was designed to help patients face their fears. (12) As part of therapy, participants retell their trauma stories and engage in avoided activities in a safe environment. This treatment has been found to be highly effective in reducing PTSD symptoms, and its benefits often last longer than those conferred by pharmacologic interventions. (13) CASE CONTINUED Feeling 'out of sync' Ms. M remains frightened and angry after 2 months and is referred for psychological evaluation. She is diagnosed with PTSD based on her debilitating symptoms, including flashbacks, frightening nightmares, avoiding the subway, and feeling emotionally numb (which she describes as being out of sync with loved ones). Ms. M also complains of difficulty sleeping and irritability. The therapist initiates prolonged-exposure treatment, including imaginal and in vivo exposure. In imaginal exposure, Ms. …