Acute Stress Disorder

Acute stress disorder is an intense reaction that develops in the weeks following a traumatic event and it usually lasts for one month or less. If the symptoms last more than a month then it is considered PTSD.

Acute stress disorder (ASD) usually develops in the weeks after a traumatic event. ASD usually lasts three days and can persist for up to one month. ASD symptoms are similar to those seen in post-traumatic stress disorder.

Symptoms

- Dissociative symptoms  

  • Feeling numb, detached, or emotionally unresponsive
  • A reduced awareness of your surroundings
  • Derealization  
  • Dissociative amnesia, which occurs when you can't remember one or more important aspects of a traumatic event

- Reexperiencing the traumatic event

- Avoidance

- Anxiety or increased arousal  

- Distress

Prevalence

The prevalence of ASD after a traumatic event has been estimated at between 5 and 20 percent, depending on the nature and severity of trauma.

Prognosis

Research suggests that later development of PTSD is strongly associated with acute stress disorder. It has also been shown that ASD patients are more likely to attempt suicide compared to those without ASD. Early treatment of ASD can reduce your chances of developing PTSD.

When to seek help

Treatment

  • Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy as a first-line treatment of patients with ASD. CBT can reduce the risk of further developing PTSD. Trauma-focused therapy focuses on increasing knowledge on trauma psychology, symptom management skills, identifying and disputing cognitive distortions, and exposure therapy.
  • Exposure therapy is a CBT method that involves controlled client exposure to the traumatic source to relive the trauma memory mimicking fear extinction.
  • Medications are sometimes used but they are not as effective as psychological therapies and should not routinely be used. Medications are sometimes given to help with specific symptoms like lack of sleep or depression.