Coronavirus deaths spike by 1,052 as new case numbers drop
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters.Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer.Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights.You can unsubscribe at any time.
Research highlights that one in three Covid patients who were put on a ventilator now experience symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). What are the signs of this condition? Dr Adam Hampshire, from Imperial College London, said: “We can see that the pandemic is likely to be having a lasting impact.” The work resulted from a collaboration between Cambridge University, Imperial College London, the University of Southampton and the University of Chicago.
In the study, there were 13,049 survivors of suspected or confirmed Covid from the UK general population.
One in five people who were admitted to hospital, without the need of a ventilator, also experienced extensive symptoms of PTSD.
The most common PTSD symptom experienced by Covid patients was flashbacks.
Dr Hampshire continued: “This evidence could be important for informing future therapy and reducing the long-term health burden of this disease.”
What’s PTSD?
The charity PTSD UK said it’s “essentially a memory filing error caused by a traumatic event”.
The condition can affect anyone who has experienced an event that “provoked fear, helplessness, or horror in response to the threat of injury or death”.
PTSD is a response to trauma that has happened directly to you or if you’ve been a witness to trauma.
Examples of traumatic events can include:
- Road traffic accidents
- Diagnosed with life-threatening illness
- Bereavement
- Violent personal assault
- Military combat
- Domestic abuse
- Emergency service work
- Medical work
- Burglary
- Natural disasters
- Terrorist attack
- Being held hostage
- Childbirth
- Miscarriage
- Admission to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
DON’T MISS
Coronavirus new strain symptoms: The 12 symptoms [INSIGHT]
Coronavirus new strain symptoms: Seven new symptoms [ADVICE]
Apple cider vinegar recipe: How to drink [TIPS]
It’s unclear why people in similar situations, such as admission to an ICU, may or may not develop the condition.
However, some risk factors for developing PTSD include:
- Repeated trauma
- Lack of support after the trauma
- Having had a mental illness in the past
- A history of abuse or trauma in childhood
- The type/severity of the traumatic event
Symptoms of PTSD
“PTSD and trauma symptoms can vary in intensity over time,” said the charity.
“You may have more symptoms when you’re stressed in general, or when you run into reminders of what you went through.”
Some symptoms of trauma may dissipate after a number of week’s while others may linger.
There are four type of symptoms:
- Re-experiencing symptoms
- Avoidance symptoms
- Arousal and reactivity symptoms
- Cognition and mood symptoms
A diagnosis of PTSD requires an adult to have all of the following for at least one month:
- At least one re-experiencing symptom
- At least one avoidance symptom
- At least two arousal and reactivity symptoms
- At least two cognition and mood symptoms
- Re-experiencing symptoms
One example of a re-experiencing symptom is flashbacks, which involves reliving the traumatic event, feeling like it’s happening right now.
Other re-experiencing symptoms include:
- Reoccurring memories or nightmares related to the event
- Distressing and intrusive thoughts or images
- Physical sensations like sweating, trembling, pain or feeling sick.
“Thoughts and feelings can trigger these symptoms, as well as words, objects, or situations that are reminders of the event,” said PTSD UK.
Avoidance symptoms
- Staying away from places, events, or objects that are reminders of the experience
- Feeling that you need to keep yourself busy all the time
- Using alcohol or drugs to avoid memories
- Feeling emotionally numb or cut off from your feelings
- Feeling numb or detached from your body
- Being unable to remember details of the trauma
Arousal and reactivity symptoms
- Being jumpy and easily startled
- Feeling tense, on guard, or “on edge” – this is called hypervigilance
- Having difficulty concentrating on even simple and everyday tasks
- Having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Feeling irritable and having angry or aggressive outbursts
- Self-destructive or reckless behaviour
Cognition and mood symptoms
- Trouble remembering key features of the traumatic event
- Feeling like you can’t trust anyone
- Distorted thoughts about the trauma that cause feelings of blame and guilt
- Overwhelming negative emotions, such as fear, sadness, anger, guilt, or shame
- Loss of interest in previous activities
- Feeling like nowhere is safe
- Difficulty feeling positive emotions, such as happiness or satisfaction
Source: Read Full Article