Kaplan and Sadocks Synopsis of Psychiatry 12th Edition Test Bank Related

Review Kaplan and Sadocks Synopsis of Psychiatry 12th Edition Test Bank related questions and content

The patient’s daughter was murdered while they were customers in a local bank. Which statements would support the patient’s diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? Select all that apply:

  • A. “I feel numb, like a robot going through the motions of existing.”
  • B. “I’m so nervous and jump at the slightest noise.”
  • C. “I have not slept very well at all since I lost her.”
  • D. “I can’t stop reliving the last time I saw her alive.”
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because feeling numb and detached from emotions is a common symptom of PTSD known as emotional numbing. This symptom is often seen in individuals who have experienced a traumatic event, such as the murder of a loved one. It is a defense mechanism that helps the person cope with overwhelming emotions.

The other choices are incorrect:
B: Being nervous and easily startled (hypervigilance) is more indicative of the hyperarousal symptom of PTSD, not emotional numbing.
C: Difficulty sleeping is a common symptom of PTSD, known as insomnia, but it does not directly relate to emotional numbing.
D: Reliving the traumatic event through flashbacks or intrusive memories is a symptom of PTSD, but it is not directly related to emotional numbing.