Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs when distressing symptoms emerge after one or more frightening incidents. A person with PTSD typically must have experienced the event directly, witnessed it in person, or learned about violence to a close loved one. The event must have involved serious physical injury, the threat of serious injury, or death. Examples include military combat, serious motor vehicle accidents, natural disasters, robberies, rape, and kidnappings. In the United States, physical assault and rape are the most common stressors causing PTSD in women, while military combat is the most common stressor in men.
Stress severity does not automatically cause PTSD—most people exposed to terrible trauma do not develop it. Up to 10% of women and 5% of men experience PTSD at some point in their lifetime. The disorder occurs more frequently in young adults, and risk is higher in people who are poor, unmarried, or socially isolated, perhaps because they have fewer supports and resources to help them cope.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
PTSD symptoms include intrusive mental images, nightmares, marked anxiety, avoidance of reminders, emotional numbness, loss of interest in enjoyable activities, and being constantly on guard against danger. Symptoms must last at least one month and seriously affect ability to function at home, work, or in social situations. Doctors will evaluate the possibility that other disorders—such as panic disorder, depression, or bipolar disorder—might be at the root of distress, and will ask detailed questions about traumatic experiences, sleep, concentration, and substance use.
Treatment Options
Untreated PTSD can be long-lasting, with symptoms coming and going over many years. However, treatment—whether psychotherapy, medications, or both—can be helpful if patients stick with it. Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to change negative thinking through exposure therapy and cognitive restructuring. Psychodynamic psychotherapy is less structured and focuses on how trauma has impaired the ability to manage emotions. Antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are commonly prescribed, along with medications like prazosin to reduce nightmares. Overall, about 30% of people eventually recover completely with proper treatment, and another 40% get better, even though less-intense symptoms may remain.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-a-to-z