Occurs in those who have experienced recent trauma, with roughly 20% of those who recently experienced trauma presenting these symptoms in cases where there was no interpersonal assault. In cases with the presence of that type of traumatic event, almost 50% of individuals experienced acute stress disorder.  

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Acute stress disorder is a kind of trauma and stress related disorder. It is a mental health disorder which occurs within the first month (3 days to 1 month following exposure) of experiencing trauma, or one or more traumatic events. However, once the symptoms occur longer than one month, acute stress disorder becomes post traumatic stress disorder.

Acute Stress Disorder

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

DSM-5

There are five diagnostic criteria for acute stress disorder: (1) being exposed to a real or threatened act of violence (death, serious injury, sexual violence); (2) repeated exposure to these traumatic events can inflict this stress response; (3) presence of at least nine symptoms (listed in diagnostic features); (4) the duration of the disturbance is 3 days to 1 month after trauma exposure and leads to clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning; and, (5) the impairments experienced are not caused by a substance or other condition and are ruled to be caused by this disorder.

Diagnostic Criteria of Acute Stress Disorder 

Associated features of acute stress disorder include the individual experiencing heavily negative thoughts relating their role in the event or future harm. These symptoms can be misinterpreted by the individual as them having a diminished mental capacity due to frequent flashbacks or numbing of the traumatic event. Additional features of the disorder include panic attacks in the initial month and displaying chaotic or impulsive behavior. In children, sufferers can experience separation anxiety from a caregiver. Other symptoms include acute grief reactions and post-concussive symptoms (dizziness, headaches, etc).

Associated Features of Acute Stress Disorder

Prevalence of Acute Stress Disorder

Symptoms of this disorder vary by individual. There is usually an anxiety response where the individual re-experiences the traumatic event. This can occur through intrusion symptoms, negative mood, dissociative symptoms, avoidance symptoms, and arousal symptoms. Many of those with acute stress disorder suffer the inability to feel positive emotions but feel strong negative emotions (sadness, guilt, etc). Another common symptom is dissociative amnesia (forgetting moments of the event) and many suffer with sleep onset and maintenance issues. Other common experiences include irritable behavior (can lead to aggressive verbal or physical behavior with little or no provocation), difficulty concentrating, reactions to unexpected stimuli. In order to be diagnosed as acute stress disorder, symptoms must last for at least 3 days to 1 month after the traumatic event.

Diagnostic Features of Acute Stress Disorder

Acute Stress Disorder is diagnosed 3 days after the occurrence of a traumatic event, and must be at least 3 days after the experiencing trauma. In certain cases, acute stress disorder can eventually lead to post-traumatic stress disorder if symptoms occur over one month. Acute stress disorder can remain constant, or become better or worse for an individual based on stressors occurring in one’s daily life or by experiencing future traumatic instances. Additionally, symptoms can vary across different age ranges and development. Children may experience certain symptoms but be unable to attribute their symptoms to the traumatic event.  

Development and Course of Acute Stress Disorder

Risk and prognostic factors that affect the diagnosis of acute stress disorder include:
-Temperamental Factors


-Environmental Factors. 


-Genetic and Physiological


Risks and Prognostic Factors of Acute Stress Disorder

For acute stress disorder, there are certain contextual diagnostic issues that should be taken into consideration when making a diagnosis. These diagnostic issues are related to:


-Culture-Related


-Sex- and Gender-Related




Related Diagnostic Issues of Acute Stress Disorder 

For acute stress disorder, there are certain contextual diagnostic issues that should be taken into consideration when making a diagnosis. These diagnostic issues are related to:


-Culture-Related


-Sex- and Gender-Related


Related Diagnostic Issues of Acute Stress Disorder

There are several functional consequences of acute stress disorder. An individual may experience a harder time functioning in a social, interpersonal, or occupational setting. Their sleep, energy levels, and ability to attend to certain events or tasks can be impaired by their anxiety. People experiencing acute stress disorder may begin to withdraw from daily activities or appointments that they begin to perceive as threatening. 


Functional Consequences of Acute Stress Disorder

Differential diagnoses to acute stress disorder may include:


-Adjustment Disorders


-Panic Disorder


-Dissociative Disorders


-Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)


-Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)


-Psychotic Disorders


-Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)


Differential Diagnoses to Acute Stress Disorder

This includes the intersection of connections and/or research related to acute stress disorder in other fields of study and research. Such fields include:
Behavioral Neuroscience
Biomedical Science
Clinical Psychology
Health Psychology


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