Compare and contrast how children versus adults experience stress and trauma.  What are differences in the determination of trauma and PTSD in children and adolescents as compared to adults?

You are a psychologists and are conducting a psychological evaluation to determine the most accurate diagnosis of a 31 year old who had recently graphically witnessed a devastating, traumatic, and fatal automobile accident.  You are trying to determine if an Acute Stress Disorder is the most accurate diagnosis for the individual.  What is needed in order to make this diagnosis? When is a PTSD diagnosis warranted and how does a PTSD and Acute Stress Disorder diagnosis differ from one another?

There are several physiological processes that help to explain stress response.  Describe the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis (HPA-Axis) and The Autonomic Nervous System.  In what ways do these stress-related pathways contribute to our understanding of a compromised immune system?