Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

380 Psychiatric Disorders and Psychologic Conditions
COMMON PHOBIAS
acrophobia fear of heights
agoraphobia fear of open spaces or crowded public places
altophobia fear of heights
aviophobia fear of flying
claustrophobia fear of enclosed spaces
herpetophobia fear of snakes
hydrophobia fear of water
pyrophobia fear of fire
sociophobia fear of being in social gatherings and events
technophobia fear of technology
xenophobia fear of strangers
See also OBSESSIVE–COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD).
postpartum depression A depressive disorder
that occurs after CHILDBIRTH. Postpartum depression
may affect as many as 20 percent of women
who have recently given birth. Although postpartum
depression is more likely to occur in subsequent
pregnancies if the woman experienced it
after one PREGNANCY, it can develop in women
who had previous pregnancies without postpartum
depression. It is common for women to feel
somewhat sad after giving birth, but these feelings
generally pass within a few weeks, and doctors
believe they result from the hormonal shifts taking
place in the woman’s body.
Postpartum depression occurs when the feelings
deepen into sensations of hopelessness, being
overwhelmed, extreme mood swings, or being
inadequate as a mother. Postpartum depression,
like other depressive disorders, is a serious clinical
condition that requires medical evaluation and
treatment. The most effective treatment is PSY-
CHOTHERAPY in combination with ANTIDEPRESSANT
MEDICATIONS. Most women recover with six
months to a year, though in some women the
depressive disorder becomes chronic and requires
ongoing treatment.
A rare complication of postpartum depression is
postpartum PSYCHOSIS, in which the woman experiences
a complete break with reality and requires
intense care, usually in an inpatient setting. Doctors
treat postpartum psychosis as any other psychosis,
with ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATIONS and
psychotherapy. Postpartum psychosis is very
severe and likely to return if the woman has
another pregnancy.
See also PARENTING; POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISOR-
DER (PTSD); STRESS AND STRESS MANAGEMENT.
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) A
delayed-onset anxiety disorder that develops
months to years after a traumatic experience or
event. The event may be personal, such as SEXUAL
ASSAULT or CHILD ABUSE, or a widespread disaster
such as surviving a plane crash or tornado.
Though the first awareness of PTSD symptoms
came from soldiers returning from war with “battle
fatigue,” PTSD can affect anyone who has had
a traumatic experience; more than five million
Americans have PTSD.
Symptoms and Diagnostic Path
Ordinary events and experiences not obviously
related to the trauma may trigger symptoms, and
symptoms often worsen at the anniversary of the
experience or event. Common symptoms of PTSD
include
• flashbacks and nightmares of the traumatic
event
• a sense of emotional numbness or distance
• panic-like reactions to places, people, and circumstances
that evoke memories of the trauma
• feelings of guilt or unworthiness about surviving
when others died
The diagnostic path includes a medical examination
to rule out physical causes for symptoms as
well as comprehensive psychologic evaluation to
distinguish PTSD from other psychologic disorders.
Treatment Options and Outlook
The most effective treatment approach is a combination
of PSYCHOTHERAPY and ANTIANXIETY MEDICA-
TIONS or ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATIONS. The process of
uncovering the event or experience is sometimes
extensive, particularly in the case of childhood
abuse or trauma. Sometimes the person has a
diagnosis of GENERAL ANXIETY DISORDER (GAD) or
DEPRESSION then discovers through therapy the
underlying trauma. Treatment helps many people