Question

In May, 2016, Fort McMurray, Alberta, was devastated by a raging wildfire that destroyed over 2500 homes and businesses, and forced the evacuation of thousands of residents. Community members began to return home in June; however, many did not have a house to go back to. There were no deaths as a direct result of the wildfire, however, two young people lost their lives in a devastating head on collision as they fled the city.

The evacuation of Fort McMurray was terrifying for some, due to a large, intense and unpredictable fire, that came very close to the city’s core. For a look at what it was like for some as they drove out of the city, please see:

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/news/articles/alberta-wildfires-summed-up-in-10-terrifying-tweets/67304

(please note that viewing this video is not mandatory—if you have trouble with the link, or feel uncomfortable about watching the clip, please just move on and answer the question without—viewing is not necessary)

As stated above, some residents lost their homes or businesses to fire; others had cleanup and decontamination processes to go through. Homes in fire ridden areas smell badly due to smoke, and other reasons, including mould formation and rotting food.

In his model of allostatic load, Dr. Bruce McEwen talks about the impact of trauma (amongst a number of other factors) on the wear and tear of the physiological stress response system.   Using his framework, and the Alberta wildfire scenario (you may speak generally, or use a specific case study that you found online or made up using the fire scenario), explain and demonstrate how such a trauma might possibly influence one’s physiological response and susceptibility to developing PTSD (make sure to explain the concepts of allostatic load/overload and incorporate the DSM definition of PTSD in the context of your answer). Be sure to also address previous factors in a person’s life that might influence the response (apply these factors in the context of the model, and in your example).

Then, explain how the culmination of these incidents (coupled with other relevant factors in your scenario) might influence one’s response (physical and psychological) to a subsequent traumatic experience and/or social and environmental stressors that may occur after the fire, such as a chronic issue that might occur within one’s family or in the workplace. Again, be sure to use McEwen’s model in your answer, demonstrating an understanding of his ideas.

Answer 1

According to DSM, PSTD is defined as below:

PSTD : Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can cause due to severe psychological and physical symptoms which can result from sudden, unexpected environmental crisis. This kind of symptoms are often referred as post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that entails of a sustained and dysfunctional emotional reaction to a severe stressor.

Some of the psychological symptoms that cover in PSTD, considering the case as mentioned above could lead to:

• The traumatic even is consistently re-experienced by an individual through recurring thoughts or nightmares. (e.g.: Nightmare of Fort McMurray being devasted again by the wildfire and destroying everything)
• The person avoids the stimuli associated with he trauma and numbing of general responsiveness.

An individual might also develop the feeling of detachment from the society and develop depression and anxiety.

Having understood that PSTD occurs post a severe traumatic situation, it can lead to immense imbalance in workplace and dysfunction one's family. The reasons are as follows

1. Withdrawal from family,
2. Depression and anxiety disorders
3. Inability to avoid thoughts, feeling and conversations associated with trauma
4. PSTD also has effects on health because of hormonal changes in the body
5. It leads to negative feeling

There is imbalance at workplace, leads to incapability to put 100% at work

McEwen’s model talks about how there are various hormonal changes in the body due to PSTD. McEwen has found that chronic stress reduces the number of neurons in the dentate gyrus.

He also emphasis on the neuroendocrine system has a strong link with behavior and experience with hormone secretion. Hormones regulate body functions such as reproduction, fluid and mineral balance, metabolism, and immune activity. They also have a major role in shaping and developing brain, and affect mood and behavior, and contribute to aging and disease.