For approximately two-thirds of individuals exposed to a traumatic event, these symptoms resolve on their own with time. During the weeks following a traumatic event, the vast majority of individuals exhibit normative acute reactions, such as intrusive thoughts or dreams about the event, hyper-alertness, irritability, and problems with sleep, memory, and/or concentration. The lifetime prevalence of PTSD is estimated at 8.3%. Īlthough most individuals experience a traumatic event during their lifetime, the majority of trauma-exposed individuals do not develop PTSD. Even so, nearly 90% of the general population endorses experiencing one or more traumatic events (with the modal number of trauma exposures being three), such as sexual or physical assault, combat, motor vehicle accidents, and natural disasters. The fifth edition of the diagnostic manual explicitly excludes exposure to traumas via television, movies, pictures, or electronic mediums, possibly due to concerns that the definition of trauma was enlarging to a construct too broad to be useful. PTSD can also develop from repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of traumatic events, such as military photographers whose job it is to photograph the details of wartime atrocities, first responders who are charged with collecting human remains, and police officers who are repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse. Exposure is defined as directly experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, or learning that a trauma occurred to a close family member or friend. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM ), the traumatic event must involve exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. PTSD develops after exposure to a potentially traumatic event. After reviewing treatment recommendations, we conclude by describing critical areas for future research. However, relapse may occur after the discontinuation of pharmacotherapy, whereas PTSD symptoms typically remain stable or continue to improve after completion of evidence-based psychotherapy. A wide variety of pharmacotherapies have received some level of research support for PTSD symptom alleviation, although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have the largest evidence base to date. Among psychotherapeutic approaches, evidence-based approaches include cognitive-behavioral therapies (e.g., Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. In regard to treatment, we highlight commonly used, evidence-based psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies for PTSD. We provide a review of the characteristics of PTSD along with associated risk factors, and describe brief, evidence-based measures that can be used to screen for PTSD and monitor symptom changes over time. This review summarizes the literature on the epidemiology, assessment, and treatment of PTSD. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic psychological disorder that can develop after exposure to a traumatic event.
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