Anxiety, Stress and Trauma Assessments

Anxiety symptoms can range from mild, chronic tenseness, with feelings of timidity, fatigue, apprehension, and indecisiveness, to more intense states of restlessness and irritability that may lead to aggressive acts, persistent helplessness, or withdrawal. Anxiety can be accompanied by physical responses, including restlessness, insomnia, and changes in appetite, all occurring without identification of a known underlying organic cause. Tests such as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) differentiate between temporary state anxiety and long-standing trait anxiety in order to develop appropriate treatment.

Stress refers to the consequence of the failure to respond appropriately to emotional or physical threats, whether actual or imagined. Symptoms include a state of alarm and adrenaline production, short-term resistance as a coping mechanism, and exhaustion as well as irritability, muscular tension, inability to concentrate and a variety of physiological reactions such as headache and elevated heart rate.  This section offers a range of tests designed to identify, measure and monitor causes of stress as well as exploring coping strategies.

Trauma is termed as an emotional or psychological injury resulting from extremely stressful or life-threatening situations. Symptom severity depends on the person and type of trauma involved, but can entail panic attacks, re-experiencing the trauma as a result of triggers, and disruptive or destructive coping mechanisms. Nightmares, insomnia, dissociation, loss of self esteem and depression are also reported. The range of products includes the Detailed Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress (DAPS) that assesses the symptoms and features of post-traumatic stress in order to inform a clinical interview that will determine treatment.