Posttraumatic stress disorder (ptsd). aftereffects of trauma

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after a person has experienced or witnessed a terrifying traumatic event.

Symptoms may include flashbacks of the trauma, avoidance of reminders, negative alterations in thinking and mood, and marked changes in arousal and reactivity.

Exposure to a Traumatic Event

The cardinal criterion for PTSD is exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence, either by experiencing it directly, witnessing it in others, knowing that the traumatic event has occurred to a family member or close friend (in cases of threatened or actual death, the event must have been violent or accidental), or experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event (usually in the context of rescuers, police officers, etc.).

Intrusive Symptoms and Flashbacks

The person experiences recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing recollections of the traumatic event, related distressing dreams, or dissociative reactions (flashbacks) in which they feel or act as if the event were happening all over again.

There may also be intense psychological distress or marked physiological reactions when exposed to internal or external factors that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event.

Persistent Avoidance

There is persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event.

This may include efforts to avoid distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about the event, as well as avoidance of external reminders (people, places, conversations, activities, objects, situations) that arouse unpleasant memories or feelings.

Negative Cognitive and Mood Disturbances

These are observed Negative disturbances in cognitions and mood associated with the traumatic event, such as:

• Inability to recall an important aspect of the event.

• Persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs or expectations about oneself, others, or the world.

• Distorted perception of the cause or consequences of the event, leading to blame of oneself or others.

• Persistent negative emotional state (fear, horror, anger, guilt, shame).

• Marked decrease in interest or participation in meaningful activities.

• Feeling detached or estranged from others.

• Persistent inability to experience positive emotions.

Disturbances in Arousal and Reactivity

There are also marked changes in arousal and reactivity, such as irritable behavior and angry outbursts, reckless or self-destructive behavior, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, concentration problems, and sleep disturbances.

These symptoms must last more than 1 month and cause clinically significant distress or functional impairment.

PTSD is treatable, with approaches such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and, in some cases, medication.