Which of the following is a symptom that is commonly found in both secondary traumatic stress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

• A. Persistent delusions unrelated to trauma
• B. Intrusive thoughts or memories related to the traumatic event
• C. Manic episodes characterized by elevated mood
• D. Obsessive hand-washing rituals

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the definitions of both secondary traumatic stress (STS) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Both involve psychological distress following exposure to traumatic events, but STS occurs indirectly through exposure to others' trauma, while PTSD results from direct trauma experience.
2. Identify common symptoms of PTSD, which typically include intrusive thoughts or memories, avoidance behaviors, negative changes in mood and cognition, and heightened arousal or reactivity.
3. Recognize that secondary traumatic stress shares many symptoms with PTSD because it involves similar trauma-related stress responses, especially intrusive thoughts or memories related to the traumatic event.
4. Evaluate the options given: persistent delusions unrelated to trauma are not typical of either condition; manic episodes are characteristic of mood disorders, not PTSD or STS; obsessive hand-washing rituals are more related to obsessive-compulsive disorder.
5. Conclude that the symptom common to both STS and PTSD is 'intrusive thoughts or memories related to the traumatic event,' as this reflects the core trauma-related distress experienced in both conditions.