Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Diagnostic criteria are provided for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the DSM and ICD.
A mental disorder which can occur following exposure to specific types of severe, potentially psychologically traumatic events perceived as involving severe threat to self or others.
Symptoms can include:

1. Intrusive involuntary memories, flashbacks, nightmares, or distress on exposure to triggers of the traumatizing event;
2. Avoidance of reminders of the traumatizing event;
3. Persistent, event-related negative moods and thoughts like fear, mistrust, shame, or detachment;
4. Sleep disturbance, hypervigilance, startle response, irritability, or anger; and
5. Sometimes significant dissociation, with amnesia or decreased responsiveness to external stimuli.

The experiences last for more than one month and cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The symptoms and signs are not better explained by another mental or physical health condition or the effects of a substance.

Diagnostic criteria are provided for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the DSM and ICD.
A mental disorder that can happen after exposure to psychological stressors during specific types of severe, potentially psychologically traumatic events.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder may involve different combinations of sleep disturbances, flashbacks, triggers, regular vivid recall, intrusive memories, avoiding reminders of the psychologically traumatic event and avoiding thinking about the psychologically traumatic event, trouble remembering parts of the psychologically traumatic event, persistently negative thoughts, low mood, anger, feeling emotionally numb and, having difficulties feeling emotionally connected to family or close friends.
The experiences last for more than one month and cause significant distress and/or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is made if the peson’s condition is not better explained by another physical or mental disorder.

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