Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
What is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) describes a cluster of symptoms that develop after the individual has been exposure to an aversive event. These events include various types of natural or man-made disasters and the event must have involved experiencing or witnessing actual or threatened death or serious injury or threat to oneself or another person. The person’s response to the event involves feelings of fear, helplessness or horror. The cluster of symptoms that occur following the exposure to this event include re-experiencing the event, numbing of general responsiveness and persistent avoidance of the situation, event or stimuli that trigger thoughts of the event or situation, and persistent symptoms of increase physical arousal.
How common is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?
It is very difficult to calculate how many persons suffer from PTSD because many different methods of assessment and populations are used. Children, adolescents and adults all may suffer from PTSD.
What causes Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?
An aversive event (already defined) is necessary for PTSD to develop. However, most people who experience an aversive event do not develop PTSD. Other factors appear to be important for the onset of this condition. These include the person’ physical proximity to, and severity of, the event, becoming scared or being trapped during the event, being female, and having an "anxious personality" or being anxiety-prone. Other factors also may be important but they depend upon the particular type of traumatic event.
How is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder treated?
Behavioral intervention, in the form of exposure therapy, is the treatment of choice for PTSD caused by events in civilian life (hurricanes, rape, automobile accidents). There are fewer studies examining treatment of PTSD in combat veterans, but the available evidence indicates that here too exposure therapy is the treatment of choice. Medications sometimes are used to treat the anxiety and depression that often accompany this disorder.