PTSD is underdiagnosed, Why?

The silent epidemic, Post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD  is underdiagnosed and is a complex psychological disorder that occurs or develops in an individual due to any past traumatic event witnessed by the individual. Although it has gained recognition in the past few years, it still gets overshadowed by depression and anxiety. Misdiagnosis of PTSD is common which leads to its underdiagnosis. This prevailing problem prevents countless individuals from receiving the necessary treatment and support they direly need.

Unravelling the complexities of PTSD

Its pervasive nature is itself a complexity of PTSD. It can affect multiple dimensions of an individual’s life. Its symptoms range from intrusive memories, flashbacks to nightmares and intense emotional distress. Moreover, people with PTSD often suffer from hypervigilance, they unintentionally scan their environment for any potential threat, giving exaggerated and startled responses. Its effect extends beyond a person, affecting their interpersonal relationships and creating a suffocating environment. They develop trust issues and avoid certain trauma-related situations that further tarnish their social integration.

Shedding light on PTSD’s insidious nature

One of the core reasons for PTSD underdiagnosis lies in the sneaky nature of this disease. Its symptoms may occur days, weeks, months or even years later. The lack of emergent symptoms makes the diagnosis of this disease and subsequent diseases less apparent. Furthermore, patients with PTSD often avoid revisiting those traumatic memories due to the distress they will feel by revisiting them, leading to suppressed symptoms of PTSD and delayed diagnosis. This self-defence mechanism creates consequential challenges for mental health professionals to diagnose this disorder.

Social stigma around PTSD

The prevailing societal stigmas are a reason for undiagnosed. The stigma incorporates various aspects including misconception and stereotyping. Being labelled as a weakling in society or emotionally unstable prevents many from conceding to their suffering and seeking appropriate help. Such misconstructed assumptions impair the diagnosis of PTSD as a valid psychological disorder. Consequently, individuals are often faced with judgements and social pressure to suppress their emotions, intensifying their suffering.

PTSD was frequently misunderstood and stereotyped. Many believed it can exclusively happen to soldiers returning from war zones. This limited understanding narrowed down the targeted patients and their empathy towards them, such as survivors of domestic abuse, accidents or natural disasters. This kind of stereotyping and misconceptions and lack of studies on this led to reinforcing the stigma around PTSD.

Diagnostics and Clinical bias

In the diagnosis of PTSD there exist several challenges and potential clinical biases. These factors can contribute to misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. One of the diagnostics challenges is self-reported symptoms by the patient. PTSD is not something a simple person can diagnose. Its symptoms can be subjective to situations and individuals and may vary in different situations. Making it difficult to have a consistent diagnosis criterion.

Overlapping symptoms of PTSD with other psychiatric disorders are also a reason for the underdiagnosis of PTSD. Symptoms such as anxiety, depression and sleep disturbance are present in various disorders leading to clinical confusion. Professionals need to look for more hardcore symptoms to accurately diagnose PTSD. Clinicians may have a preconceived notion about a person having PTSD, which can lead to overlooking the disorder in those who do not fit into these stereotypes. Cultural, racial and gender-related bias can also play a role in disparity in diagnosis and access to proper treatment.

The disparity in diagnosis between gender

Although PTSD can happen to anyone, statistics show there is a significant gender difference in the prevalence of PTSD. According to the National Center for PTSD,10% of women suffer from PTSD as compared to 4% of men. Though when you mention PTSD most people think of men in the army or men in road accidents.as while, there is some truth to this thought but PTSD is not limited to this. According to American Psychological Association,” women are twice likely to develop PTSD, experience a longer duration of post-traumatic symptoms and display more sensitivity to stimuli that remind them of trauma”. Unfortunately, there is still a stigma around mental health disorders in women reporting PTSD. Professionals need to be properly trained for these situations as well as more awareness needs to be created.

Rippling effects of PTSD is underdiagnosed

At an individual level, untreated PTSD can lead to anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts that can further intensify the situation. Moreover, untreated PTSD on the social level causes detachment from society and personal relations. Early interventions and proper treatment are essential for this disorder.

Awareness and literacy for PTSD is underdiagnosed

Creating awareness in the general public will help those who are still underdiagnosed, creating an empath environment for them. There are Some methods for creating awareness about PTSD

• Advocate for policies that support PTSD individuals
• Encourage open conversations around PTSD
• Promote self-care practices for individuals affected by PTSD
• Develop educational brochures and organize workshops and seminars
• Share personal stories on social platforms to reduce stigma.

Conclusion

Addressing that PTSD is underdiagnosed requires an approach that includes awareness and action regarding destigmatization and inclusive training of mental health care professionals. By overcoming those barriers and promoting accurate identification society can strive toward ensuring individuals suffering from PTSD receives the proper care they need to reclaim from the clutches of this epidemic.