Discovering the Nuances: PTSD, PTS, and PTSI Explained

Stella is at the forefront of groundbreaking and impactful treatments for post-traumatic stress, recognising it as more than just a disorder but as a profound injury. We assert that emotional trauma can induce biological changes, leading to an over activation of the sympathetic nervous system.

While the widely recognised term is PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, describing a psychiatric condition arising from exposure to trauma, there's a growing shift in terminology. PTS, or post-traumatic stress, serves as an interim stage during the transition away from using PTSD, ultimately evolving towards PTSI.

PTS, an acronym for post-traumatic stress, becomes PTSI, signifying post-traumatic stress injury. Both terms encompass the same array of symptoms associated with PTSD. However, the distinction lies in the conceptualisation – where PTSD denotes a psychiatric disorder, PTSI frames the condition as a biological injury.

It's crucial to note that many individuals grappling with post-traumatic stress might not receive a PTSD diagnosis and may overlook their signs and symptoms. Trauma manifests in diverse forms, such as car accidents, experiences of racism and hate speech, the aftermath of Long COVID, emotional abuse from a loved one, or even a career-ending injury like a torn ACL for an athlete. Recognising these nuances is fundamental to fostering understanding and providing effective support.

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Pioneering Change Through Research: Transforming the PTSD Narrative to PTSI

In a dedicated endeavour to dismantle stigmas surrounding post-traumatic stress and enhance accessibility to care, Stella's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Eugene Lipov, has advocated for a paradigm shift – renaming PTSD as PTSI. To investigate the potential impact of this proposed nomenclature alteration, a comprehensive study was conducted by Stella between August 2021 and August 2022, aligning with Mental Health Awareness Month.

The findings, unveiled during Mental Health Awareness Month and published on Cureus, substantiate Dr. Lipov's hypothesis.

The study, a testament to Stella's commitment to empirical insights, employed an anonymous online survey disseminated to a diverse cohort of 3,000 adult participants, comprising patients, visitors, and users of the Stella website. From the 1,353 responses received, 1,025 complete responses underwent meticulous analysis. The survey was meticulously designed to gauge participants' perspectives on whether rebranding PTSD as PTSI could effectively diminish stigmas, instill hope, and positively influence their inclination to seek medical assistance.

The outcomes divulged a compelling narrative. A resounding over two-thirds of respondents concurred that adopting the term PTSI would indeed mitigate the stigma surrounding PTSD. Additionally, more than half of the participants expressed optimism that this semantic transition could heighten their hope of discovering viable solutions and elevate their propensity to seek medical support. Remarkably, individuals diagnosed with PTSD were notably more inclined to anticipate positive outcomes from the renaming initiative, underscoring the potential transformative impact on those directly affected by the condition.

This pivotal research not only underscores the significance of linguistic nuances in shaping perceptions but also propels Stella's mission to redefine the discourse on post-traumatic stress, fostering a climate of understanding, empathy, and proactive care.

PTSI: Healing from an Injury

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"Disorder" is often associated with an inherent deficiency, like immunodeficiencies or metabolic disorders – something a person is often born with, can identify themselves by, and/or is permanent. In contrast, "injury" is a no-fault or no-shame word. Most injuries are treatable using the right methods. Methods that are currently available to those in need. With the right dialogue around post-traumatic stress, including renaming PTSD to PTSI, people will seek treatment. The survey and its results are the first steps to working toward a better pathway to healing.

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Overcoming the challenge of transitioning from PTSD to PTSI hinges on gaining recognition from influential stakeholders capable of instigating change. The catalysts for this transformative shift are lawmakers, activists, advocates, and medical professionals who wield the power to embrace the new nomenclature.

Dr. Lipov and Stella's Chief Psychologist Officer, Dr. Shauna Springer, have contributed to the discourse surrounding this renaming initiative. Notably, Psychiatrist Frank Ochberg, renowned for coining the term "Stockholm Syndrome," initially propelled the movement to transition from PTSD to PTSI, a cause acknowledged in Stella's exploration of this crucial evolution.

Access more information here https://dreugenelipov.com/its-ptsi-not-ptsd/

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