DSM-IV symptom Criteria question

Hey everyone,
I've tried in vain to find out what one "B" item(q1-5), three "C" items(q6-12) and two "D" items(q13-17) refers to.
What are the B, C and D stand for?
Thanks
Jack
 
Hey everyone,
I've tried in vain to find out what one "B" item(q1-5), three "C" items(q6-12) and two "D" items(q13-17) refers to.
What are the B, C and D stand for?
Thanks
Jack
Maybe if I mention that this is from the PTSD exam criteria.

PTSD DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria

The diagnostic criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are defined in DSM-IV as follows:

A. The person experiences a traumatic event in which both of the following were present:
  • The person experienced or witnessed or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others;
  • The person's response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror.
B. The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced in any of the following ways:
  • Recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections of the event, including images, thoughts or perceptions;
  • Recurrent distressing dreams of the event;
  • Acting or feeling as if the traumatic event were recurring (eg reliving the experience, illusions, hallucinations, and dissociative flashback episodes, including those on wakening or when intoxicated);
  • Intense psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event;
  • Physiological reactivity on exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event.
C. Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma and numbing of general responsiveness (not present before the trauma) as indicated by at least three of:
  • Efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings or conversations associated with the trauma;
  • Efforts to avoid activities, places or people that arouse recollections of this trauma;
  • Inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma;
  • Markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities;
  • Feeling of detachment or estrangement from others;
  • Restricted range of affect (eg unable to have loving feelings);
  • Sense of a foreshortened future (eg does not expect to have a career, marriage, children or a normal life span).
D. Persistent symptoms of increased arousal (not present before the trauma)as indicated by at least two of the following:
  • Difficulty falling or staying asleep;
  • Irritability or outbursts of anger;
  • Difficulty concentrating;
  • Hypervigilance;
  • Exaggerated startle response.
E. The symptoms on Criteria B, C and D last for more than one month.

F. The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.

As referenced above, highlighted item B, highlighted item C, and highlighted item D are the diagnostic criteria for PTSD within the now outdated DSM-IV.

In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association revised the PTSD diagnostic criteria in the fifth edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

To that extent, reference these URLs https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/PTSD-overview/dsm5_criteria_ptsd.asp and https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-21-0960P-3-ARE.pdf for additional detailed information. Take care!

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"

Best Wishes!
 
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Warrior644, thank you so much for the info.
I think I've stumbled across the above buried in some PDF, but blew by it.
Didn't make the connection to the B,C and D reference.
Just in time too, I've got a VES appointment next Monday morning at 8am.
Boy is she(Phd)going to see me in my prime. I just turned 65 and I hate getting up early.
Thanks again,
Jack
 
Warrior644, thank you so much for the info.
I think I've stumbled across the above buried in some PDF, but blew by it.
Didn't make the connection to the B,C and D reference.
Just in time too, I've got a VES appointment next Monday morning at 8am.
Boy is she(Phd)going to see me in my prime. I just turned 65 and I hate getting up early.
Thanks again,
Jack
Indeed, you are quite welcome! :)

No worries; hope all goes well at your forthcoming VES appointment. ;)

In my opinion, no matter the age, it's never too late to receive increased DoVA disability compensation if the medical symptomology warrants it! Take cake! :cool:

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"

Best Wishes!
 
DSM-5 Criteria for PTSD
Full copyrighted criteria are available from the American Psychiatric Association (1). All of the criteria are required for the diagnosis of PTSD. The following text summarizes the diagnostic criteria:

Criterion A (one required): The person was exposed to: death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence, in the following way(s):

  • Direct exposure
  • Witnessing the trauma
  • Learning that a relative or close friend was exposed to a trauma
  • Indirect exposure to aversive details of the trauma, usually in the course of professional duties (e.g., first responders, medics)
Criterion B (one required): The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced, in the following way(s):

  • Unwanted upsetting memories
  • Nightmares
  • Flashbacks
  • Emotional distress after exposure to traumatic reminders
  • Physical reactivity after exposure to traumatic reminders
Criterion C (one required): Avoidance of trauma-related stimuli after the trauma, in the following way(s):

  • Trauma-related thoughts or feelings
  • Trauma-related reminders
Criterion D (two required): Negative thoughts or feelings that began or worsened after the trauma, in the following way(s):

  • Inability to recall key features of the trauma
  • Overly negative thoughts and assumptions about oneself or the world
  • Exaggerated blame of self or others for causing the trauma
  • Negative affect
  • Decreased interest in activities
  • Feeling isolated
  • Difficulty experiencing positive affect
Criterion E (two required): Trauma-related arousal and reactivity that began or worsened after the trauma, in the following way(s):

  • Irritability or aggression
  • Risky or destructive behavior
  • Hypervigilance
  • Heightened startle reaction
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Difficulty sleeping
Criterion F (required): Symptoms last for more than 1 month.

Criterion G (required): Symptoms create distress or functional impairment (e.g., social, occupational).

Criterion H (required): Symptoms are not due to medication, substance use, or other illness.

Two specifications:

  • Dissociative Specification. In addition to meeting criteria for diagnosis, an individual experiences high levels of either of the following in reaction to trauma-related stimuli:
    • Depersonalization. Experience of being an outside observer of or detached from oneself (e.g., feeling as if "this is not happening to me" or one were in a dream).
    • Derealization. Experience of unreality, distance, or distortion (e.g., "things are not real").
  • Delayed Specification. Full diagnostic criteria are not met until at least six months after the trauma(s), although onset of symptoms may occur immediately.
 
The above "extracted" context in reply #6 was initially noted via my URL hyperlink https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/PTSD-overview/dsm5_criteria_ptsd.asp and previously provided as posted in reply #3; there isn't any need or added value for a duplication of effort response! Take care!

Thus, I quite often comment that "possessing well-informed knowledge is truly a powerful equalizer!"

Best Wishes!
 
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