Define the concepts of stressor, stress, and coping, describe the basic categories of stressors, and discuss factors that increase or decrease a person’s vulnerability to stress.
Contrast the two major categories of coping responses and outline the numerous negative consequences of a failure to cope successfully.
Characterize the DSM-IV diagnosis of adjustment disorder and describe three major stressors and the consequences that increase the risk of adjustment disorder.
List the diagnostic criteria for acute stress disorder and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and compare and contrast the two disorders.
Summarize what is known about the major features of reactions to catastrophic events.
Identify the factors that influence the effects of rape on the victim and describe the typical immediate and long-term consequences of rape.
Characterize the phenomenon of combat-related stress and of PTSD in connection with battlefield stress.
List and illustrate the long-term effects of being a prisoner of war or in a concentration camp and note the methodological problems associated with biased sampling.
Outline the factors that appear to influence combat-related stress problems, and describe the long-term effects of PTSD.
Describe the psychological problems associated with being tortured, with being a refugee, and with being held hostage.
Summarize the approaches that have been used to treat or to prevent stress disorders and evaluate their effectiveness.
Discuss the issue of using psychotropic medications to treat PTSD.
