Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

by Eu R. Choo, M.A., Doctoral Student, Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, USMC and Marianne Cook, LICSW, Clinician, Harvard University Mental Health Service

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a set of symptoms which negatively impact thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors after exposure to extreme trauma. PTSD can occur based on a single event (e.g., a plane crash or an abduction) or because of repeated incidents (e.g. sexual abuse throughout childhood or long-term participation in armed combat). It can involve physical, emotional, or psychological harm — often it involves some combination of the three. People can also develop PTSD through witnessing or hearing about trauma done to others. This is especially common among helping professionals.

Common key symptoms of PTSD include:

• Intense fear, helplessness, or horror
• Recurring and intrusive memories such as images, thoughts, or perceptions
• Acting or feeling like the traumatic event is still happening
• Persistent avoidance of thoughts, feelings, activities, places, and people associated with the traumatic event
• Memory loss of important aspects of the traumatic event
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Repeated distressing dreams of the traumatic event
• Difficulty in concentrating or focusing
• Being overly alert or vigilant to threats in the environment
• Exaggerated startle response to sounds or sensations
• Irritability or anger outbursts
• Feeling numb or detached from emotional responses

Symptoms of PTSD typically occur between 1 and 3 months after a traumatic experience, but sometimes they do not appear for many months or even years. The severity and duration of symptoms are influenced in large part by the type of trauma and the person’s degree of direct exposure.

PTSD is receiving growing attention in the mental health field, particularly because it has affected a large number of U.S. military service members in the ongoing conflicts with Iraq and Afghanistan. At this time, treatment for PTSD generally includes one or more of the following approaches:

• Psychopharmacology (e.g. anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medications)
• Individual Psychotherapy (e.g. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy)
• Group Therapy (especially with people who have experienced similar traumas)

It is important to know that not all traumatic experiences result in PTSD. Their effect is mediated by a number of factors including the victim’s level of resilience. However, if distressing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors do not subside on their own within a few weeks after a traumatic event, the victim should be screened for PTSD because these symptoms may develop into the disorder.

The information in the article above was drawn from the following sources:

• Friedman, M.J., Donnelly, C.L., & Mellman, T.A. (2003). Pharmacotherapy for PTSD. Psychiatric Annals, 33(1), 57-62.
• National Institute of Mental Health (2009). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Retrieved on October 19, 2009 from www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml.

Additional Sources of Information

• New York Times Health Guides:
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Causes
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Risk Factors