Types of trauma that may or may not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.

by | Jan 22, 2025 | healthcare

 

Identify the types of trauma that may or may not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD.
Provide an example of how a client may be traumatized without meeting the criteria for PTSD.
Explain the importance of addressing all trauma.

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5-TR) (5th ed., text rev.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
“Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders” (pp. 295–328)

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.


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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.

Trauma and PTSD Diagnosis: What’s Included and What’s Not?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) provides a framework for diagnosing mental health conditions, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). While PTSD is a specific diagnosis, many traumatic experiences can occur that don’t necessarily meet the full criteria.  

Types of Trauma that May Not Meet PTSD Criteria:

  • Single Incident Trauma: The DSM-5-TR emphasizes the repetitive, intrusive nature of the traumatic event in PTSD diagnosis.

    A single, isolated traumatic event, even if distressing, might not qualify.  

Trauma and PTSD Diagnosis: What’s Included and What’s Not?

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) provides a framework for diagnosing mental health conditions, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). While PTSD is a specific diagnosis, many traumatic experiences can occur that don’t necessarily meet the full criteria.  

Types of Trauma that May Not Meet PTSD Criteria:

  • Single Incident Trauma: The DSM-5-TR emphasizes the repetitive, intrusive nature of the traumatic event in PTSD diagnosis.

    A single, isolated traumatic event, even if distressing, might not qualify.  

  • Less Intense Trauma: The severity of the trauma is also considered. While a person might experience a frightening event, it may not reach the level of intensity required for a PTSD diagnosis.
  • Indirect Trauma: Witnessing a traumatic event happening to someone else can be deeply disturbing, but the DSM-5-TR focuses on experiencing the trauma firsthand.
  • Accumulative Trauma: Chronic exposure to stressful or low-level traumatic events can have a cumulative effect on mental health. However, the DSM-5-TR criteria for PTSD focus on specific types of traumatic experiences.  

Example:

Imagine a young student witnesses a car accident on their way to school. The accident is shocking, and the student experiences fear and anxiety for a few days. They may have nightmares or flashbacks of the accident. However, these symptoms gradually subside within a month. In this case, while the student experienced a traumatic event, it might not meet the full criteria for a PTSD diagnosis due to the single incident and the relatively short duration of symptoms.  

Importance of Addressing All Trauma:

Even if a traumatic experience doesn’t translate to a formal PTSD diagnosis, it’s crucial to acknowledge and address its impact on mental health. Unprocessed trauma can manifest in various ways, including:

  • Anxiety and depression
  • Substance use disorders
  • Relationship problems
  • Difficulty concentrating  
  • Physical health problems

By acknowledging and addressing all forms of trauma, mental health professionals can help individuals develop healthy coping mechanisms, improve their overall well-being, and prevent the development of more severe mental health conditions.

Additional Considerations:

  • The DSM-5-TR is a guide, and individual experiences can vary. A mental health professional can assess the specific details of a traumatic event and its impact on the individual to determine the most appropriate course of treatment.  
  • Trauma can be complex and have long-lasting effects.

    Seeking professional help is crucial for individuals struggling with the aftermath of traumatic experiences, regardless of whether they meet the criteria for PTSD.

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