Mental health awareness is gaining ground in contemporary society, yet there is still a great deal of confusion around certain concepts. This includes understanding the difference between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic stress injury (PTSI). The two terms are often used interchangeably, but there are distinct differences that need to be recognised.
What is PTSD?
PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. This could include experiences such as natural disasters, severe accidents, terrorist incidents, war, or other violent personal assaults. PTSD is characterised by intrusive memories or flashbacks of the traumatic event, avoidance of reminders, changes in thoughts and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity.
What is PTSI?
On the other hand, PTSI is a relatively new term being advocated by a growing number of mental health professionals. The key distinction between PTSD and PTSI lies in the designation of “disorder” versus “injury”. PTSI is viewed as a normal response to abnormal circumstances. Essentially, it suggests that the person is not “disordered” but has sustained an “injury” as a result of exposure to a traumatic event.
The terminology of PTSI is seen as less stigmatizing and more accurate in describing the condition. It recognises that the symptoms experienced are not a sign of weakness or a personal failing, but rather a response to trauma, akin to a physical injury.
Despite the differing terminology, the symptoms of PTSD and PTSI are identical. Both conditions can manifest through intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, negative changes in mood and cognition, and alterations in arousal and reactivity. They can severely impact a person’s daily life, affecting their ability to work, form relationships, and engage in social activities. Both conditions can also lead to other mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
However, the distinction between PTSD and PTSI has profound implications for the perception and treatment of trauma-related symptoms. By framing the condition as an injury rather than a disorder, PTSI reframes the conversation about trauma and its impact.
The term PTSD can sometimes convey the idea that the person is inherently flawed or broken. In contrast, the term PTSI emphasises that the person has sustained an injury due to an external event. This shift in perspective can help eliminate the stigma associated with trauma-related conditions, allowing for more open conversations and better support.
In terms of treatment, the emphasis on injury can also encourage a more holistic approach. In addition to psychiatric treatment methods such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), other supportive therapies that address the physical and emotional components of the ‘injury’ may be considered. This could include physical therapy, yoga, mindfulness, and stress management techniques.
While PTSD and PTSI essentially refer to the same set of symptoms, the terminology used has significant implications. The growing use of the term PTSI reflects a shift in how we understand and approach trauma-related conditions. By focusing on the traumatic event as the cause of the ‘injury,’ it takes the blame off the individual, encouraging a more compassionate and comprehensive approach to treatment and recovery.
Through further awareness and understanding, we can ensure that those impacted by trauma receive the appropriate support and care they deserve. Ultimately, whether one uses the term PTSD or PTSI, the goal should always be to foster empathy, support, and effective treatment for those affected.
Jefferson McAllister, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist with a keen interest in trauma and mental health stigma reduction. He believes in the power of words to reshape perceptions and encourage healing.
Uelewa wa afya ya akili unazidi kuongezeka katika jamii ya kisasa, lakini bado kuna mchanganyiko mkubwa karibu na dhana fulani. Hii inahusisha kuelewa tofauti kati ya ugonjwa wa mkazo wa baada ya majeraha (PTSD) na jeraha la mkazo wa baada ya majeraha (PTSI). Maneno hayo mawili hutumiwa mara nyingi kwa kubadilishana, lakini kuna tofauti tofauti ambazo zinahitaji kutambuliwa. Ugonjwa wa PTSD ni nini? PTSD ni ugonjwa wa akili ambao unaweza kutokea kwa watu ambao wamepitia au kushuhudia tukio la kuumiza. Hilo laweza kutia ndani mambo kama vile misiba ya asili, aksidenti nzito, matukio ya kigaidi, vita, au mashambulizi mengine ya kikatili. PTSD ni sifa ya kumbukumbu intrusive au flashbacks ya tukio la kiwewe, kuepuka kukumbusha, mabadiliko katika mawazo na hali ya moyo, na mabadiliko katika arousal na reactivity. PTSD ni nini? PTSD ni neno jipya linalotumiwa na wataalamu wengi wa afya ya akili. Tofauti kuu kati ya PTSD na PTSI iko katika uteuzi wa "kosa" dhidi ya "majeraha". PTSD huonwa kuwa itikio la kawaida kwa hali zisizo za kawaida. Kimsingi, inaonyesha kwamba mtu huyo si "mweusi" lakini amepata "majeraha" kwa sababu ya kupatwa na tukio lenye kuumiza. Kwa hivyo, PTSD ni jina la kawaida la kuelezea hali hiyo. "Kuna utambuzi kwamba dalili zinazopatikana si ishara ya udhaifu au kushindwa kwa kibinafsi, bali ni majibu ya majeraha, kama vile majeraha ya kimwili.""" Licha ya kutofautisha maneno, dalili za PTSD na PTSD ni sawa. Hali zote mbili zinaweza kuonekana kupitia mawazo ya kuingilia, tabia za kuepuka, mabadiliko hasi katika hali ya moyo na utambuzi, na mabadiliko katika kuamsha na mwitikio. Wanaweza kuathiri sana maisha ya kila siku ya mtu, kuathiri uwezo wake wa kufanya kazi, kuunda mahusiano, na kushiriki katika shughuli za kijamii. Hali zote mbili zaweza pia kusababisha matatizo mengine ya afya ya akili kama vile kushuka moyo, wasiwasi, na kutumia dawa za kulevya. Tofauti kati ya PTSD na PTSD ina athari kubwa kwa utambuzi na matibabu ya dalili zinazohusiana na majeraha. Kwa kuelezea hali kama jeraha badala ya ugonjwa, PTSD inabadilisha mazungumzo juu ya majeraha na athari zake. "Jina ""PTSD"" linaweza kuashiria kwamba mtu huyo ana kasoro au ni mlemavu." "Kinyume chake, neno ""PTSD"" linamaanisha kwamba mtu amepata jeraha kutokana na tukio la nje." Mabadiliko haya ya mtazamo yanaweza kusaidia kuondoa stigma inayohusiana na hali zinazohusiana na majeraha, kuruhusu mazungumzo ya wazi zaidi na msaada bora. Kwa habari ya matibabu, kukazia uzito wa majeraha kunaweza pia kuchochea mbinu ya jumla zaidi. Kwa kuongezea mbinu za matibabu ya kisaikolojia kama vile tiba ya tabia ya utambuzi (CBT) au desensitization ya harakati za jicho na usindikaji (EMDR), matibabu mengine ya kusaidia ambayo yanashughulikia vipengele vya kimwili na kihemko vya "majeraha" yanaweza kuzingatiwa. Hilo laweza kutia ndani tiba ya kimwili, yoga, utunzaji wa akili, na mbinu za kudhibiti mfadhaiko. Ingawa PTSD na PTSD zinarejelea dalili sawa, maneno yanayotumiwa yana athari kubwa. "Utumizi wa neno ""PTSD"" unaongezeka na unaonyesha mabadiliko katika jinsi tunavyoelewa na kukabiliana na hali zinazohusiana na majeraha." Kwa kuzingatia tukio la kiwewe kama sababu ya "majeraha", inachukua lawama kutoka kwa mtu binafsi, ikihimiza mbinu ya huruma na ya kina zaidi kwa matibabu na uponyaji. Kwa ufahamu zaidi na uelewa, tunaweza kuhakikisha kwamba wale walioathiriwa na majeraha hupokea msaada na huduma inayofaa wanayostahili. "Hata kama mtu anatumia neno ""PTSD"" au ""PTSD,"" lengo lazima daima kuwa kukuza hisia-mwenzi, msaada, na matibabu ya ufanisi kwa wale walioathiriwa." Jefferson McAllister, PhD ni mtaalamu wa saikolojia ya kliniki na maslahi makubwa katika trauma na afya ya akili stigma kupunguza. Anaamini katika nguvu ya maneno ya kubadili maoni na kuchochea uponyaji.