What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

• PTSD is a psychiatric disorder which can occur after an exceptionally threatening or catastrophic event which would give rise to marked distress in most individuals exposed to it. 
  
  
• PTSD does not occur following the more common upsets of life, e.g., divorce, unemployment and "natural deaths". (Although it is acknowledged that such events can be very distressing.)
  
  
• PTSD can be diagnosed according to the 2 systems of classifying psychiatric disorders, namely the:
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV)
• International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10)
  
  
• The diagnosis of PTSD by means of these 2 systems of classification can be confusing because it is quite possible for an individual to be diagnosed as suffering from PTSD according to one system but not according the other as each classification uses a different definition of the stressor criterion.
  
  
• Most specialists, however, would accept that the 3 distinguishing features of PTSD are:
• flashbacks
• avoidance
• hyperarousal/hypervigilance
  
  
• Whilst these symptoms can also be considered to be normal reactions to a traumatic event, if they persist for longer than 1 month, the probability is that the individual is suffering from PTSD.
  
  
• Occasionally, the onset of PTSD can be delayed by several months. However, it is more common for sufferers to delay the reporting of their symptoms. It is widely accepted that trauma survivors are generally reluctant to complain of their symptoms for various reasons. These include:
• a concern that they are being "stupid" or "weak".
• the feeling that they are not deserving of help (particularly if they have suffered with guilt as a result of the trauma itself).
  
  
• PTSD is not as common as the media would lead us to believe, and it is most likely to occur not as a single disorder but in conjunction with the more common post-traumatic conditions of:
• depression
• anxiety
• substance misuse (alcohol and/or drugs)
  
  
• There are successful treatments for PTSD and other post-traumatic conditions. If the symptoms have continued for over 1 month and are fairly severe, generally, the earlier a survivor seeks professional help the better.  Unfortunately, for some, the condition may become chronic and trouble them for the rest of their lives. 
  
  
• Also, after extremely severe traumatic experiences, such as being taken hostage, or tortured or imprisoned in a concentration camp, certain individuals may display a marked and lasting personality change.  Typically, they may become hostile, highly suspicious, and always "on edge".  Also, they report a profound sense of hopelessness and of personal "emptiness".