Persistent stress often leads to impaired performance and stress-related health problems, and it sometimes lingers even after the stressor ends. As described in the chapter, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most dramatic examples of the aftereffects of stress. As a class assignment, you are asked to prepare a brief presentation on PTSD that focuses on different theoretical views of the disorder and the controversy surrounding its increased prevalence. Answer the following questions to organize your presentation.
How would a researcher working from the biopsychosocial perspective explain PTSD? What are some of the specific biological, psychological, and social factors in the disorder?
How would a researcher working within the diathesis-stress model explain PTSD? What are some of the specific predisposing and precipitating factors in the disorder?
How would a researcher working in psychoneuroimmunology explain PTSD? What are some possible mind–body pathways to the disorder?