PTSD Assessment and Treatment Planning After Natural Disaster
This paper examines the assessment and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the context of a tornado survivor named Betty, whose home was destroyed and whose husband sustained a serious injury during the disaster. The paper outlines five key assessment questions targeting re-experiencing, avoidance, arousal, depression, and cognitive symptoms, followed by a DSM-5 diagnosis of PTSD (309.81/F43.10). It then identifies multidisciplinary referrals — including a social worker and cognitive behavioral therapy — and recommends three evidence-based interventions: Trauma-Focused CBT, coping skills therapy, and a pharmacological sleep aid (Zaleplon) to address both short- and long-term recovery needs.
- Introduction: PTSD After Traumatic Events: Context for Betty's trauma and paper scope
- Screening and Assessment Questions: Five assessment questions targeting PTSD symptoms
- Diagnosis and Immediate Needs: DSM-5 PTSD diagnosis and Betty's primary needs
- Multidisciplinary Referrals: CBT and social worker referrals for recovery
- Treatment Interventions: TF-CBT, coping skills therapy, and Zaleplon
- Conclusion: Summary of treatment and referral recommendations
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What makes this paper effective
- Applies a structured case-study format that moves logically from screening to diagnosis to referral to intervention, giving each stage clear rationale tied to Betty's specific circumstances.
- Uses peer-reviewed citations at each step to justify clinical decisions, demonstrating awareness of evidence-based practice rather than relying on opinion alone.
- Distinguishes between short-term and long-term needs, noting, for example, that CBT can be deferred until the husband's medical crisis is stabilized — showing sensitivity to real-world treatment sequencing.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper uses a clinical reasoning chain: each recommendation is grounded in a symptom observation, linked to a diagnostic criterion, and then supported with a quoted empirical or clinical source. This mirrors how practitioners write case conceptualizations and treatment plans, making it a strong model for applied psychology writing at the undergraduate level.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a brief context-setting introduction, then addresses four numbered sections: (1) assessment questions with rationale, (2) diagnosis and immediate case needs, (3) multidisciplinary referrals, and (4) treatment interventions. A brief conclusion summarizes the plan. The structure is problem-solution oriented throughout, anchored to a single client case.
Introduction: PTSD After Traumatic Events
Traumatic events can shape a person's life and cause untold stress and pain for long periods of time. Natural disasters can affect a person's life in many ways — destroying their home, causing long-term injuries, and creating a profound sense of instability. Betty has experienced a powerful tornado that ravaged her home and led to her husband breaking his leg. This essay focuses on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) assessment and treatment options for someone like Betty, in order to help her stabilize herself and find ways to positively cope with such trauma.
Screening and Assessment Questions
The first thing to understand is the difference between screening and assessment. Screening involves a typical yes-or-no answer and an evaluation for the possible existence of a specific problem. An assessment, on the other hand, is a process used to define the nature of an issue, determine a diagnosis, and develop specific treatment recommendations to help address that diagnosis or issue. Because Betty experienced a traumatic event resulting in long-term consequences — losing her home and her husband requiring surgery and physical therapy — the first two assessment questions should focus on identifying whether she may display symptoms of PTSD.
The key reason for PTSD as a possible diagnosis is her re-experiencing of symptoms. Betty stated she relives what happened to her frequently. While she did not mention night terrors or unwanted daytime memories specifically, her description of reliving the events points in that direction. Reliving trauma — often accompanied by guilt, grief, or other intense emotions — can signal PTSD. PTSD is also typically diagnosed following a crisis. "Both Panic Disorder and PTSD are two subtypes within Anxiety Disorders that often are associated with crises" (Cavaiola & Colford, 2011, p. 132).
Therefore, the first question would be: "Do you experience nightmares, flashbacks, or daydreams? If so, what feelings are invoked when they occur?" This two-part question would confirm what Betty has already shared. It will demonstrate she is reliving the trauma in forms that potentially signal PTSD, and the answers will also serve as the basis for the PTSD diagnosis.
The second question centers on avoidance symptoms, because traumatized individuals often try to avoid situations, people, or events that might evoke the trauma they experienced. Betty stated that her husband needs surgery and therapy, and that she feels guilty because she believes she caused his injury. The question would be: "What are you trying to avoid, if anything, concerning the night of the tornado?" If she identifies her husband, this can help determine the source of her guilt and anxiety and serve as a starting point for treatment recommendations.
The third question centers on arousal symptoms. While Betty has not mentioned any substance abuse, she may be experiencing arousal symptoms such as feeling easily startled, jumpiness, sensitivity to loud noises, insomnia, and diminished cognitive ability. The third question would be: "What kinds of behaviors have you exhibited since the tornado?" If Betty needs clarification, examples of arousal symptoms can be offered so she can better understand and communicate what she has been experiencing. One important clue pointing to arousal symptoms is her inability to sleep due to reliving the trauma.
The fourth question focuses on depression. Betty has experienced an event that has upended much of her everyday life — she has no home, her husband is injured, and she cannot function as she did before. The fourth question would be: "Do you feel hopeless, and if so, why?" People with PTSD often experience depression, and some also develop anxiety disorders or substance abuse issues. The assessment questions must include a possible diagnosis of depression in order to help Betty address any potential complications in treatment.
The fifth and final question focuses on potential depressive symptoms such as lack of concentration and thoughts of self-harm. The question would be: "Have you had thoughts of hurting yourself, or are you having trouble concentrating on things? What specifically are you having difficulty concentrating on?" This two-part question will help the assessment identify what Betty is struggling with and enable the development of a treatment plan that allows her to regain some of the autonomy and independence she had before the tornado. Because Betty was such a prominent and capable figure prior to the disaster, it will be important to incorporate aspects of her former self and former activities into the rebuilding of her life.
Diagnosis and Immediate Needs
The diagnosis code that would apply to Betty's case is PTSD, DSM-5 309.81 (F43.10). Because Betty experienced symptoms following a traumatic event — the tornado — her presentation falls under PTSD. While the assessment questions included a potential additional diagnosis of depression, research suggests that depression in those who suffer from PTSD may emerge after the individual experiences a state of emotional numbing. "Emotional numbing symptom cluster was more strongly related to depression (P < .001) and worse mental health-related functioning (P < .001) than other symptom clusters, while the externalizing behavior symptom cluster was more strongly related to hostility (P < .001)" (Tsai et al., 2015, p. 546). Betty does not appear to display emotional numbing — she feels guilty and she is worried — and therefore she most likely has not yet developed depression.
With a PTSD diagnosis established, assessment of Betty's issues and needs can lead to a suitable treatment recommendation. The two main issues Betty faces are her husband's surgery and physical therapy, and her search for a new home. She feels guilty because she believes her actions — pushing her husband into the basement — led to his broken leg and subsequent surgery. She needs assistance in the form of an in-home physical therapist or personal care attendant to facilitate her husband's recovery.
Regarding finding a new home, the tornado has left Betty displaced and without a stable foundation from which to recover. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may help her build positive coping mechanisms to effectively manage the stress of her condition and prepare to find a new home and re-establish herself after the disaster.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Betty presents with symptoms consistent with PTSD. To help her address these symptoms, the recommended treatment plan includes TF-CBT as the primary intervention, coping skills therapy as a supplementary intervention, and a short-term prescription of Zaleplon to address her sleep difficulties. Referrals should be directed toward her two main concerns: managing her PTSD symptoms and addressing her husband's health needs. A referral to a social worker can help Betty access information and strategies to manage the costs and logistics of her husband's surgery and physical therapy, while a CBT referral will help her develop the skills needed to cope with and recover from PTSD.
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