Post-traumatic stress disorder
A trauma-related disorder characterised by re-experiencing, avoidance, threat arousal and negative changes in mood or thinking that impair recovery and daily functioning.
Definition
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental-health condition that can follow exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, sexual violence or other traumatic events. It involves trauma-linked re-experiencing, avoidance, threat arousal and negative changes in mood or thinking with clinically important impairment.
First principles
PTSD is a persistent trauma-response pattern, not simply a strong memory
After experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, some people continue to respond as if the danger is present. Intrusive memories, nightmares or flashbacks re-experience the event; avoidance reduces short-term distress but restricts life and prevents corrective learning; hyperarousal keeps the person alert to threat; and negative changes in mood or thinking alter how the event, self and world are understood.
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