Acute Stress Disorder

What is Acute Stress Disorder?

Following a traumatic event, it is common to feel anxious and uneasy. For some people, a trauma is followed by a number of distressing symptoms that are very similar to PTSD (intrusive thoughts and memories about the trauma, feeling detached or numb, negative mood, avoidance of trauma cues, and hyperarousal. ASD was established in order to quickly identify people at risk of developing PTSD. Symptoms begin within days of the traumatic incident and can last one month. If symptoms persist after one month, the diagnosis is changed to PTSD.

How is Acute Stress Disorder Treated?

CBT is a first-line treatment for acute stress disorder. We work with clients to examine patterns of thinking that perpetuate the fear response and work collaboratively to establish safe and effective exposure protocols to ameliorate symptoms. Depending on the case, we may use CPT to treat the symptoms.

Treatments

CBT,  CPT

Learn More About Other Trauma and PTSD Disorders