Also, the symptoms show a mixed and rapidly changing picture; although "daze" depression, anxiety, anger, despair, hyper-activity, and withdrawal may all be seen, no one symptom dominates for long. The symptoms usually resolve rapidly where removal from the stressful environment is possible. In cases where the stress continues, the symptoms usually begin to diminish after 24–48 hours and are usually minimal after about three days. Evaluation of patients is done through close examination of emotional response. Using self-report from patients is a large part of diagnosing ASD, as acute stress is the result of reactions to stressful situations.The DSM-V specifies that there is a higher prevalence rate of ASD among females compared to males due to higher risk of experiencing traumatic events and neurobiological gender differences in stress response. Treatment
This disorder may resolve itself with time or may develop into a more severe disorder, such as PTSD. However, results of Creamer, ODonnell, and Pattisons (2004) study of 363 patients suggests that a diagnosis of acute stress disorder had only limited predictive validity for PTSD. Creamer et al. found that re-experiences of the traumatic event and arousal were better predictors of PTSD. Early pharmacotherapy may prevent the development of post-traumatic symptoms. Additionally, early trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT) for those with a diagnosis of ASD can protect an individual from developing chronic PTSD.Studies have been conducted to assess the efficacy of counselling and psychotherapy for people with acute stress disorder.
It was assumed to be a temporary response of healthy individuals to witnessing or experiencing traumatic events. Symptoms include depression, anxiety, withdrawal, confusion, paranoia, and sympathetic hyperactivity.The APA officially included the term ASD in the DSM-IV in 1994. Before that, symptomatic individuals within the first month of trauma were diagnosed with adjustment disorder. According to the DSM-IV, acute stress reaction refers to the symptoms experienced immediately to 48 hours after exposure to a traumatic event. In contrast, acute stress disorder is defined by symptoms experienced 48 hours to one month following the event. Symptoms experienced for longer than one month are consistent with a diagnosis of PTSD.Initially, being able to describe different ASRs was one of the goals of introducing ASD. Some criticisms surrounding ASDs focal point include issues with ASD recognising other distressing emotional reactions, like depression and shame. Emotional reactions similar to these may then be diagnosed as adjustment disorder under the current system of trying to diagnose ASD.Since its addition to the DSM-IV, questions about the efficacy and purpose of the ASD diagnosis have been raised. The diagnosis of ASD was criticized as an unnecessary addition to the progress of diagnosing PTSD, as some considered it more akin to a sign of PTSD than an independent issue requiring diagnosis. Also, the terms ASD and ASR have been criticized for not fully covering the range of stress reactions. == References ==