Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the Global Context (FutureLearn)

Learn how to identify, assess the risk for, prevent and treat PTSD in a range of contexts. Learn about PTSD - its symptoms, prevalence, causes and treatment. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the mental disorder most commonly associated with exposure to trauma. PTSD results from exposure to traumas which pose a threat of serious harm or death to an individual or people close to that individual. This includes conflict-related traumas, interpersonal traumas such as sexual assault, and exposure to serious accidents, such as a car accident or a house fire.

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Learn about PTSD in a global context

In the global context, the prevalence of PTSD is thought to be on the rise, as the number of individuals displaced by conflict and violence increases. The United Nations estimates that there are currently close to 80 million people who have been forcibly displaced worldwide. As the displacement process is often fraught with potentially traumatic events, awareness of PTSD is vital now more than ever to be able to ensure the wellbeing of these displaced populations.

Recognise the effects of trauma on mental health

In this four-week course, you will be introduced to PTSD and its symptoms. You will learn about PTSD in the global context, and risk and protective factors will be discussed. Diagnostic and help-seeking challenges will be explored, and the role of culture critically appraised. Treatment options for PTSD, including psychological therapies, will be explored.

This course hopes to raise awareness of PTSD, inform practice, inspire and encourage further independent study, and open up conversations about this important topic.

What topics will you cover?

- Defining trauma and PTSD

- Prevalence of PTSD across the lifespan and across the globe

- Barriers to diagnosing, treating, and seeking help for, PTSD

- Culture and PTSD

- Resilience after psychological trauma

- Protective and vulnerability factors for PTSD

- Treatment and prevention strategies for PTSD

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

- Define trauma and PTSD, and identify core PTSD symptomatology

- Understand variations in PTSD rates and presentation across the lifespan and across the globe

- Explain the role of biological, socio-cultural and psychological factors in PTSD

- Explain pertinent diagnostic challenges in PTSD, and articulate approaches for facilitating help-seeking and recovery

- Describe and critically assess evidence-based strategies for treatment and prevention of PTSD