Do all persons who experience trauma go on to develop PTSD? How do co-existing disorders factor in to a trauma-related diagnosis?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Trauma and PTSD: Understanding the Relationship and Co-Existing Disorders
Introduction
Experiencing trauma can have a profound impact on an individual’s mental health. While post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is commonly associated with trauma, not all individuals who experience trauma will develop PTSD. Additionally, co-existing disorders can further complicate the diagnosis and treatment of trauma-related conditions. This paper explores the relationship between trauma and PTSD, considers the factors that contribute to the development of PTSD, and discusses how co-existing disorders can influence trauma-related diagnoses.
Trauma and PTSD
Trauma refers to an event or experience that is deeply distressing or disturbing, often resulting in feelings of intense fear, helplessness, or horror. PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can develop following exposure to a traumatic event. It is characterized by intrusive memories, avoidance of trauma-related triggers, negative changes in mood and cognition, and heightened arousal.
Factors Contributing to the Development of PTSD
While trauma is a necessary condition for the development of PTSD, it is not sufficient on its own. Various factors contribute to whether an individual will develop PTSD after experiencing trauma. These factors include the severity and duration of the traumatic event, the presence of additional stressors, pre-existing mental health conditions, social support systems, and individual resilience. Not all individuals who experience trauma will meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, as resilience and coping mechanisms can play a protective role.
Co-Existing Disorders and Trauma-Related Diagnoses
Co-existing disorders refer to the presence of multiple mental health conditions in an individual. In the context of trauma-related diagnoses, co-existing disorders can complicate the assessment and treatment process. It is common for individuals who have experienced trauma to also have other mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, or personality disorders. These co-existing disorders can interact with trauma symptoms, making it challenging to differentiate between the contributions of each condition.
Impact of Co-Existing Disorders on Trauma-Related Diagnoses
Co-existing disorders can impact the presentation and course of trauma-related diagnoses in several ways. Firstly, symptoms of co-existing disorders may overlap with or mimic PTSD symptoms, leading to diagnostic confusion. For example, symptoms of depression, such as feelings of guilt or loss of interest, can be mistaken for symptoms of PTSD. Secondly, co-existing disorders can exacerbate trauma symptoms and complicate treatment outcomes. The presence of an anxiety disorder, for instance, may intensify hyperarousal symptoms in individuals with PTSD, making it more challenging to alleviate distress.
Integrated Approaches to Diagnosis and Treatment
Given the complex nature of co-existing disorders in trauma-related diagnoses, an integrated approach to assessment and treatment is crucial. Professionals should conduct comprehensive evaluations that consider the interplay between trauma symptoms and co-existing conditions. This may involve utilizing standardized assessment tools, taking a thorough psychiatric history, and gathering collateral information from multiple sources. Treatment strategies should also be tailored to address both trauma-related symptoms and co-existing disorders, employing evidence-based interventions that target each condition individually.
Conclusion
Not all individuals who experience trauma will develop PTSD, as various factors contribute to the development of this disorder. Co-existing disorders further complicate trauma-related diagnoses by overlapping symptoms and influencing treatment outcomes. It is essential for healthcare professionals to adopt an integrated approach when assessing and treating individuals with trauma-related conditions and co-existing disorders. By carefully considering the interplay between these factors, clinicians can provide comprehensive care that addresses all aspects of an individual’s mental health and maximizes treatment outcomes.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Brewin, C.R., et al. (2017). Diagnosis and classification of disorders specifically associated with stress: Proposals for ICD-11. World Psychiatry, 16(3), 269-276.
Kessler, R.C., et al. (2017). Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 593-602.
Pietrzak, R.H., et al. (2014). Prevalence and Axis I comorbidity of full and partial posttraumatic stress disorder in the United States: Results from Wave 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 28(8), 835-842.
Sareen, J., et al. (2010). Posttraumatic stress disorder in adults: Impact, comorbidity, risk factors, and treatment. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 55(2), 104-113.
Steuwe, C., et al. (2012). Dissociation in PTSD: Evidence for a dissociative subtype? In D.L. Stevens & J.B. Gabbard (Eds.), Handbook of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (pp. 207-224). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.
