An anxiety disorder in which exposure to an exceptional mental or physical stressor is followed, sometimes immediately and sometimes not until 6 months or more after the stress, by persistent reexperiencing of the event, avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma or numbing of general responsiveness, and manifestations of hyperarousal. The trauma typically includes experiencing, witnessing, or confronting an event that involves actual or threatened death or injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of oneself or others, with an immediate reaction of intense fear, helplessness, or horror.
Disorder developing after experiencing a psychologically distressing event. It is characterized by reexperiencing the event and by overresponsiveness to, or involvement with, stimuli that recall the event. Also called “Vietnam vet’s disease.” Depression, startle reactions, flashback phenomena, and dissociative episodes are present.
An anxiety disorder, usually brought about by one or more traumatic events, characterized by a repeated reliving of the event, depression, nightmares, inappropriate social behavior, estrangement from others, and other adjustment problems.
A psychological condition affecting people who have suffered severe emotional trauma, e.g. occasioned by war or natural disaster. Its symptoms include chest pain, dizziness, sleep disturbances, flashbacks, anxiety, tiredness, and depression.
Ongoing disabling reaction to a traumatic situation or event, with numbed emotional response, disinterest in people and current events, and repeated reliving of the traumatic event; symptoms include chronic anxiety, insomnia, irritability, and occasional violent outbursts; previously known as combat fatigue or shell shock.
An anxiety disorder that involves the re-experiencing of a traumatic event evoking intense fear, helplessness, and horror through hallucinations, flashbacks, or nightmares. Commonly abbreviated PTSD, it can arise after accidents involving death, natural disasters, a fire, war, physical abuse, assault, rape, or torture. PTSD usually develops within 3 months of the trauma, but can begin years later. Antianxiety and antidepressant medications are often used to treat PTSD. Hypnosis may also be used. Psychotherapy that helps the person express grief over the traumatic event is also helpful, as is participation in a support group with people who have been through similar experiences.
A term introduced to psychiatry in 1980 after the Vietnam War. It is one of several psychiatric disorders that can develop in people exposed to severe trauma, such as a major physical injury, participation in warfare, assault or rape, or any event in which there is major loss of life or a threat of loss of life. Most people exposed to trauma do not develop psychiatric disorder; however, some develop immediate distress and, occasionally, the reaction can be delayed for many months. Someone with PTSD has regular recurrences of memories or images of the stressful event (‘flashbacks’), especially when reminded of it. Insomnia, feelings of guilt and isolation, an inability to concentrate and irritability may result. Depression is very common. Support from friends and family is probably the best management, but those who do not recover quickly can be helped by antidepressants and psychological treatments such as cognitive behaviour therapy. Over the past few years, PTSD has featured increasingly in compensation litigation.
A psychological disorder stemming from a reaction to traumatic stressors characterized by persistently reexperiencing the traumatic event, avoiding stimuli correlated with the event, experiencing a general response numbing, and having persistent increased arousal.