Data-file 261.
Date: 01-99-27-1839.
Therapist: Nacelle (Dr. med. dipl. psych.)
Client: Thundercracker.
Frame type: Seeker-type flyer.
Mech type: Male carrier.
Field reaction: Withdrawn. Neutral.
Number of sessions: 5.
Medical examination completed: Postponed.
Findings: See above.
Psychiatric profile: Thundercracker shows the classic signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD). Complications in interpersonal interaction may suggest a case of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(C-PTSD). The presence of severe Emotional Dysregulation(ED) supports that conclusion. Further sessions are needed to reveal other significant signs pointing towards a possible C-PTSD diagnosis.
*As a fairly new diagnose, six clusters of symptoms have been suggested for diagnosis of C-PTSD:
alterations in regulation of affect and impulses;
alterations in attention or consciousness;
alterations in self-perception;
alterations in relations with others;
somatization;
alterations in systems of meaning.
Experiences in these areas may include:
Changes in emotional regulation, including experiences such as persistent dysphoria, chronic suicidal preoccupation, self-injury, explosive or extremely inhibited anger (may alternate), and compulsive or extremely inhibited sexuality (may alternate).
Variations in consciousness, such as amnesia or improved recall for traumatic events, episodes of dissociation, depersonalization/derealization, and reliving experiences (either in the form of intrusive PTSD symptoms or in ruminative preoccupation).
Changes in self-perception, such as a sense of helplessness or paralysis of initiative, shame, guilt and self-blame, a sense of defilement or stigma, and a sense of being completely different from other cybertronian beings (may include a sense of specialness, utter aloneness, a belief that no other person can understand, or a feeling of non-cybertronian identity).
Varied changes in perception of the perpetrators, such as a preoccupation with the relationship with a perpetrator (including a preoccupation with revenge), an unrealistic attribution of total power to a perpetrator (though the individual's assessment may be more realistic than the clinician's), idealization or paradoxical gratitude, a sense of a special or supernatural relationship with a perpetrator, and acceptance of a perpetrator's belief system or rationalizations.
Alterations in relations with others, such as isolation and withdrawal, disruption in intimate relationships, a repeated search for a rescuer (may alternate with isolation and withdrawal), persistent distrust, and repeated failures of self-protection.
Changes in systems of meaning, such as a loss of sustaining faith and a sense of hopelessness and despair.
Possible Differential Diagnosis:
PTSD:
PTSD can exist alongside C-PTSD, however a sole diagnosis of PTSD often does not sufficiently encapsulate the breadth of symptoms experienced by those who have experienced prolonged traumatic experience, and therefore C-PTSD extends beyond the PTSD parameters.
Borderline Personality Disorder:
C-PTSD may share some symptoms with both PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder(BPD). However, C-PTSD and BPD have been found by researchers to be completely distinctive disorders with different features. Notably, C-PTSD is not a personality disorder. Those with C-PTSD do not fear abandonment or have unstable patterns of relations; rather, they withdraw. They do not struggle with lack of empathy.
Traumatic grief:
Traumatic grief or complicated mourning are conditionswhere both trauma and grief coincide. There are conceptual links between trauma and bereavement since loss of a loved one is inherently traumatic. If a traumatic event was life-threatening, but did not result in a death, then it is more likely that the survivor will experience post-traumatic stress symptoms. If a person dies, and the survivor was close to the person who died, then it is more likely that symptoms of grief will also develop. When the death is of a loved one, and was sudden or violent, then both symptoms often coincide.
For C-PTSD to manifest traumatic grief, the violence would occur under conditions of captivity, loss of control and disempowerment, coinciding with the death of a friend or loved one in life-threatening circumstances.
Entry closed.
Data-file 261.
Date: 01-99-35-1839.
Therapist: Nacelle (Dr. med. dipl. psych.)
Client: Thundercracker.
Frame type: Seeker-type flyer.
Mech type: Male carrier.
Field reaction: Neutral.
Number of sessions: 11.
Medical examination completed: Scheduled.
Findings: See above.
Psychiatric profile: See earlier entry.
Comments: Therapeutic relationship established. Thundercracker is finally opening up, and I have been able to touch his wings without a strong reaction of antipathy. I have asked him if he is ready to let me perform an in-depth medical examination of him, and he has agreed. It has been scheduled for a few days from now. In our talk, he shows a deep concern for Skywarp's well-being and has been asking questions. I have informed him that Skywarp is okay and has encouraged Thundercracker to focus on his own well-being. The session ends with Thundercracker awkwardly seeking comfort.
"When did you last interface?" Nacelle asks while he completes the examination of Thundercracker's right thruster. The turbine is not working as smoothly as it should, and he makes a mental note to talk with the resident surgeon.
It might be necessary to replace it.
Feeling along the cables leading from the thruster to the knee joint, he rubs at some of the tension he encounters.
Thundercracker has yet to answer, but he hopes that the informal situation might be enough for the blue seeker to open up about that specific topic.
If not, he will have to be more direct in his approach when he needs to examine the other seeker's valve and gestational systems.
With his knowledge of what Thundercracker has been through, he expects that that part of the blue seeker's frame has seen most medical attention.
Scar tissue, malfunctioning sensors and even removed anterior nodes. Nacelle has seen all there is to see in his work with the victims of slavery, and nothing can surprise him anymore. To know the cruelty committed against the former slaves, solely for the sake of earning a profit, fills him with sadness and the need to help wherever he can.
"Back there..." Thundercracker whispers, and Nacelle nods in understanding.
Despite his long stay at a breeding facility, Thundercracker is not as damaged as Nacelle had feared. There is a lot of scar tissue, but the most recent of them are clearly from several surgeries. The anterior node is intact and responsive, while the valve lining has seen some abuse, both from forced interfaces and the numerous births it has experienced.
Finally, he examines the gestation chamber. As gently as he can, he tests its ability to spiral open and then its ability to hold in the gestational fluid by filling it with a small dose of conductive liquid. Thundercracker squirms at the unpleasant feeling, but the gestation chamber keeps it sealed inside.
"You can relax now. It is over," Nacelle says as he gently triggers the gestation chamber to open and release the fluid before withdrawing his instruments from the valve.
Thundercracker releases a shaky breath, the tension in his frame slowly dissipating. There is the sound of his valve cover closing before he rises from the examination table.
"How bad is it?" He asks nervously while Nacelle calmly scribbles the last of the findings into the datapad containing the information the psychiatrist has gathered on the blue seeker.
Nacelle looks up from the datapad, meeting Thundercracker's gaze dead on and telling it as it is to the blue seeker without coddling him.
"Not as bad as I initially had feared, but I might still discuss the possibility of further surgeries with your resident surgeon. It is either that, or you need to start taking more care of that part of your frame. If it remains as it is, it might lead to pain when you finally are ready to be with someone."
Thundercracker remains silent and withdrawn, and Nacelle hopes that the blue seeker at least is thinking about the implied suggestion.