Course Description: In this workshop, Dr. Ross will review the history of PTSD from the 19th century through DSM-III (1980), DSM-IV (1994) and DSM-5 (2013).  He will discuss the survival functions of PTSD symptoms including flashbacks and hyper-arousal and will explain how PTSD can be conceptualized as a disorder of the future. He will illustrate treatment strategies that follow from this perspective with brief case examples. Dr. Ross will relate the discussion to the mammalian defense systems fight, flight, and freeze throughout.

Objectives

Participants will be able to:

1. Describe the history of PTSD from the 19th century through DSM-III, DSM-IV, and DSM-5.
2. Describe the survival functions of flashbacks, hyper-arousal, and other PTSD symptoms.
3. Describe how PTSD can be conceptualized as a future-oriented survival strategy.