Posttraumatic Stress in the Medical Context: Spinal Cord Injury as the Model
by Bret A. Boyer, PhD 3 CE Credits
Description:
Spinal cord injury (SCI) represents a potentially life-threatening, extremely life-altering experience that leaves individuals with long-term needs for medical and support services. Like many other life-altering chronic conditions, SCI’s impact on an individual, as well as their support system, can be an overwhelming emotional and physical stressor. In the case of SCI, it can be devastating. This course provides an overview of factors necessary to equip clinicians to identify Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in response to life-altering medical conditions, such as spinal cord injury (SCI), and to provide therapeutic services to these individuals. Clinical implications specific to addressing PTSD among persons with SCI are provided with a focus on assessing and treating PTSD within this medical model.
Learning Objectives:
After completing this course, health professionals will be able to:
- Discuss the empirical evidence on the presence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in response to a life-altering injury using spinal cord injury (SCI) as the medical model.
- Indicate the common risk factors that are associated with the development of PTSD in this medical context.
- Predict therapeutic issues and identify clinical considerations that influence the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of PTSD in response to medical traumas such as SCI.
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