Trauma-Informed Care & Mental Health Fundamentals Flashcards

A crisis worker notes that a client who experienced domestic violence becomes agitated when a male colleague enters the room. This reaction is best understood as:

Answer: A trauma trigger causing a conditioned stress response

Trauma triggers are sensory or contextual cues associated with past trauma that activate the stress response in the present.

Which DSM-5 diagnostic criterion distinguishes Acute Stress Disorder from PTSD?

Answer: ASD symptoms last 3 days to 1 month after trauma; PTSD is diagnosed after one month

Acute Stress Disorder is diagnosed when trauma symptoms occur within one month of the event and last at least 3 days, while PTSD requires symptoms persisting beyond one month.

The 'window of tolerance' concept in trauma therapy refers to:

Answer: The optimal zone of arousal where a person can process experiences without being overwhelmed

The window of tolerance describes the zone between hypo- and hyperarousal where effective emotional processing and learning can occur.

When applying trauma-informed care to a client from a collectivist cultural background, a crisis counselor should:

Answer: Recognize that family and community may be central to the client's healing

Culturally responsive trauma-informed care acknowledges that collective identity and community support are often primary healing resources in collectivist cultures.

Which mental health condition is characterized by persistent, excessive worry about multiple life domains that is difficult to control, lasting at least six months?

Answer: Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) involves chronic, pervasive worry about multiple areas that is hard to control, present more days than not for at least six months.

In the context of crisis intervention, 'peritraumatic dissociation' refers to dissociation that occurs:

Answer: During or immediately after the traumatic event itself

Peritraumatic dissociation occurs at the time of the trauma and is a significant predictor of later PTSD development.

A crisis intervention specialist working with a suicidal client should assess for the presence of protective factors, which most commonly include:

Answer: Social support, reasons for living, and future-oriented thinking

Key protective factors against suicide include perceived social support, strong reasons for living (especially children), religious beliefs, and hope for the future.