Post–Traumatic Stress Disorder Research Paper

BACKGROUND

First documented in Vietnam veterans, post–traumatic stress disorder reveals itself in a variety of symptoms, including depression, substance abuse, emotional upset, suicidal tendencies, flashbacks, and an inability to get along in society. These symptoms can occur following exposure to extreme situations such as war, threat of death, disasters, and other violent conditions. Experts feel the fear and helpless horror experienced by the victims of post–traumatic stress disorder cause these symptoms.

BROWSE FOR BOOKS ON THE SHELF USING THESE CALL NUMBERS

616.85–616.85212

355.1–355.1156

LOOK UNDER THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS IN THE CATALOG (CARD OR COMPUTER)

Post–traumatic stress disorder

Post–traumatic stress disorder—Case studies

Post–traumatic stress disorder—Treatment

Veterans—Mental health services—United States

Vietnamese Conflict, 1961–1975—Psychological aspects

War—Psychological aspects

Disasters—Psychological aspects

REFERENCE MATERIALS THAT MAY HELP (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

American Psychological Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV, 1994.

Hathaway, William E., et al. Current Pediatric Diagnosis and Treatment, 1994.

Rakel, Robert E., ed. Conn’s Current Therapy, 1995, 1995.

Taylor, A.J.W. Disasters and Disaster Stress, 1989.

Tierney, Lawrence M., ed. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment, 1995, 1995.

Williams, Mary Beth. Handbook of Post-Traumatic Therapy, 1994.

PERIODICAL INDEXES TO SEARCH (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

EBSCO Magazine Article Summaries

InfoTrac

NewsBank and other newspaper indexes

Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature
SIRS (Social Issues Resources Series)

WILSONDISC

ONLINE DATABASES TO SEARCH

America Online

CompuServe

Dialog

Internet

Prodigy

KEY WORDS AND DESCRIPTORS FOR PERIODICAL INDEX AND ONLINE SEARCHES

Post–traumatic stress disorder

Vietnamese Conflict, psychological aspects

Disasters—psychological aspects

Human behavior—post–traumatic stress disorder

VIDEOTAPES ON THIS TOPIC

Fearless. Warner Home Video, 1993.

The Nature of Stress. Annenberg/CPB Collection, 1992.

FICTION BOOKS RELATING TO TOPIC

Jensen, Kathryn. Pocket Change, 1989.

Wolkoff, Judie. Where the Elf King Sings, 1980.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION TO CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 1717, Chicago, IL 60611.

SUGGESTIONS FOR NARROWING THIS TOPIC

Discuss the occurrence of post–traumatic stress disorder in one of the following groups of people: Vietnam veterans, urban teenagers, released hostages and prisoners of war, survivors of the Holocaust, victims of sexual assault, or airplane crash survivors.

Investigate the causes of post–traumatic stress disorder.

SUGGESTIONS FOR RELATED TOPICS

Gulf War syndrome

Psychology of trauma

Rape trauma syndrome

Trauma in children

This RESEARCH TOPIC GUIDE is intended to help the library user find information and materials on a particular topic in many sources throughout the library. Resources on this topic are not limited to those described and availability will depend upon the individual library. Feel free to ask a librarian for assistance.