Clinician handoff
Trauma
Designed for a 60-second scan in primary care. Use this to explain why this theory fits, what would weaken it, and which tests are most worth discussing.
Why this still fits
I want to evaluate whether trauma-related nervous-system activation or shutdown is contributing to my brain fog and how to distinguish that from depression, anxiety, or PTSD overlap.
What would weaken it
- -Does the fog reliably worsen after triggers, conflict, reminders, hypervigilance, or shutdown states?
- -Is this better explained by trauma/PTSD physiology than by primary depression or generalized anxiety alone?
- -Would trauma-focused treatment change the likely mechanism here more than generic stress advice?
Key points to communicate
- •Please document what findings would confirm this cause versus lower confidence.
- •I want an evidence-first workup with clear follow-up criteria.
- •Please note which competing causes should be checked in parallel if results are inconclusive.
- •Please separate metabolic, sleep, autonomic, and medication overlap before narrowing to one cause.
Tests and measurements to discuss
Need the fuller context? Use the test explainers for the measurement itself, or jump back to the tests section on the Trauma page to see how the tests fit the whole pattern.
Trauma Assessment
PTSD Screening
Sleep Assessment
What this helps clarify: This is here to make sure the story is not being driven by sleep-disordered breathing or chronic sleep disruption that only looks like ADHD on bad days.
Peer-reviewed references