Acute stress disorder as a herald of post-traumatic stress disorder: A review

Abstract

Background:
Psychosomatic disorders have taken a rapid rise in this developing world due to constant advancement in the usage of technology. Since ancient times, psyche meant mind or soul and recently it has been referred to as behaviour. Acute Stress Disorder is a psychological reaction to a traumatic event which lasts from three days to one month. When it lasts for more than a month, it is termed as post-traumatic stress disorder. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), antianxiety medications and proper counselling sessions are found effective in treatment of acute stress disorder.
Objective:
In this study through an aid of various papers present in PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, we have explained how acute stress disorder when left untreated transforms into post-traumatic stress disorder and suggest the measures can be undertaken to prevent it.
Methods:
Relevant studies were recognized by an inclusive literature search in electronic databases and reference list of reference papers. Details on patients, methods, interventions, outcomes and results were extracted in a standardized manner and quality was assessed.
Results: Papers included in the study were of event of motor vehicle accident, terrorism, violent crime, disaster, mass shooting and insomnia. The papers were taken after complete assessment.
Conclusion: The information collected from the papers were insufficient to support or refute that acute stress disorder as herald for post-traumatic stress disorder but it somehow indicated that early diagnosis and appropriate counselling with medications can help in the treatment and prevent the development of post-traumatic stress disorder.