‘Becky' experienced awareness during anaesthesia four years ago when undergoing surgery. She said she woke but remained unable to move, open her eyes or speak. She vividly recalled experiencing intense pain, and feeling terrified and helpless. She believed she must have ‘died and gone to hell'.

Over the next four years, she often relived the pain and terror experiencing anxiety about any medical or dental procedures and avoiding them vehemently. She became withdrawn and detached from her husband and friends, eventually separating from her husband. She experienced difficulty trusting others, felt insecure, and began drinking heavily. Finally, she was unable to sustain her business, which failed and confined her to home.

‘Becky' was diagnosed with PTSD. No research has been conducted into effective treatments for anaesthetic-awareness-related PTSD. The existing literature recommends traditional psychological treatment for PTSD is still the treatment of choice. As such, a treatment plan was devised to (a) stabilise her acute psychological symptomatology, (b) assist her to process the event and develop appropriate meaning, (c) work towards resolution of her symptoms, and (d) promote her lifestyle functioning (relationships, work etc).