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Clinical features

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The emotional response is usually characterised by fear, anxiety or depression according to the nature of the stressor.

Somatic symptoms may include palpitations, sweats, restlessness and insomnia.

The most common coping strategy is avoidance.

The most common mechanisms of defence are denial and repression.

Signs that an acute stress reaction is pathological include:

  • unusually intense feelings of fear or depression
  • maladaptive coping strategies
  • defense mechanisms other than denial or repression

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