Posttraumatic

Posttraumatic stress disorder (often abbreviated as PTSD) is a mental disorder that can develop after a person is exposed to a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, warfare, traffic collisions, child abuse, or other threats on a person's life. Symptoms may include disturbing thoughts, feelings, or dreams related to the events, mental or physical distress to trauma-related cues, attempts to avoid trauma-related cues, alterations in how a person thinks and feels, and an increase in the fight-or-flight response. These symptoms last for more than a month after the event. Young children are less likely to show distress but instead may express their memories through play. A person with PTSD is at a higher risk for suicide and intentional self-harm.

Causes

Most people who are exposed to a traumatic event will not develop PTSD. People who experience interpersonal trauma (for example, sexual assault or child abuse) are more likely to develop PTSD, as compared to people who experience non-assault based trauma such as accidents and natural disasters. About half of people develop PTSD following rape. Children are less likely to experience PTSD after trauma than adults, especially if they are under ten years of age. War veterans are commonly at risk for PTSD.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of PTSD was originally developed for adults who had suffered from a single event trauma, such as rape, or a traumatic experience during a war. However, the symptoms of avoidance, hypervigilance, and enduring increased arousal not present before the experience, are all symptoms also present in children and adolescents who have endured traumatic experiences.

Treatment

Several forms of therapy may be effective in PTSD treatment, including cognitive behavioral therapy, group therapy, and exposure therapy. Medications, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, can also be used.

See also

• Complex post-traumatic stress disorder
• Trauma model of mental disorders
• Trauma trigger

Posttraumatic Resources
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