post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mental disorder that follows an occurrence of extreme psychological stress, such as that encountered in war or resulting from violence, childhood abuse, sexual abuse, or serious accident. The stressful event is usually followed by a period of emotional numbness and denial that can last for months or years. After that period, symptoms such as recurring nightmares, "flashbacks," short-term memory problems, insomnia, or heightened sensitivity to sudden noises may begin. In some cases outbursts of violent behavior have been observed. The usual treatment for PTSD is individual psychotherapy, including anxiety management, or group psychotherapy with others who have the disorder. Some antianxiety and antidepressant drugs are being studied for their effectiveness.

Certain traits (a history of depression, shyness, impulsivity) appear to heighten a person's risk of experiencing PTSD after a traumatic event. In those who do experience it, there is growing evidence that actual physical changes occur in the brain. The hippocampus, a structure that lies deep in the brain and that is associated with memory, has been found to be smaller in PTSD victims. It has been hypothesized that excesses of cortisol, a steroid hormone released during periods of extreme stress, may damage nerve fibers in the area or actually kill the nerve cells. However, the role of cortisol is not completely understood; studies of concentration camp survivors found abnormally low levels of cortisol rather than abnormally high levels.

Post-traumatic stress disorder was referred to as "shell shock" after World War I and as "battle fatigue" after World War II and was traditionally thought of as a condition of war veterans. Studies of Vietnam veterans and Nazi concentration camp survivors have added greatly to the knowledge of PTSD. The National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (1988) estimated that 31% of the males and 27% of the females who served in the Vietnam War had symptoms of PTSD. Estimates of civilian populations put the rate of PTSD at 10% (women) and 5% (men) in the 15 to 54 age group. Childhood sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and assault are common causes of PTSD in both military and nonmilitary women. In 1989 the U.S. Congress created the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for the study and treatment of PTSD.

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Psychological reaction occurring after a highly stressful event and typically characterized by flashbacks, recurrent nightmares, and avoidance of reminders of the event; depression and anxiety are often present. Traumatic events that can lead to PTSD include automobile accidents, rape or assault, military combat, torture, and such natural disasters as floods, fires, or earthquakes. Long-term effects can include marital and family problems, difficulties at work, and abuse of alcohol and other drugs. Antidepressant medication and psychotherapy, including group therapy, are used in treating the disorder.

post-traumatic stress disorder

a psychological condition, characterized by anxiety, withdrawal, and a proneness to physical illness, that may follow a traumatic experience

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No references found	Conquering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Victoria Lemle Beckner & John B. Conquering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder by Internet Bookwatch Trauma victims who develop post-traumatic stress disorder often have higher levels of other stimulating hormones (catecholamines) under normal conditions in which the threat of trauma is not present. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD - War Trauma) by Carolyn Clayton / Law community 95 Paperback Explorations in metapsychology series RC552 In this update of the 2005 edition, Volkman (TIR Association, Ann Arbor, Michigan) introduces Traumatic Incident Reduction as a desensitization technique derived from humanistic psychology for treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Traumatic incident reduction; research and results, 2d ed by SciTech Book News	Post, Telephone and Telegraph administration Post, Wiley post-and-beam construction post-and-beam framing post-and-beam system post-and-girt framing post-and-lintel post-and-lintel construction post-and-rail construction post-and-rail fence post-and-truss Post-Colonial period post-completion services post-Galilean transformation Post-Impressionism post-in-the-ground house Post-Medieval architecture Post-Modern architecture Post-Modernism post-mortem examination post-Newtonian effects post-occupancy services post-on-sill house post-order traversal post-PC era post-traumatic stress disorder postaccelerating electrode postacceleration postaccelerator Postadaptation Postage Meter Postage Stamp Postal Equipment Postal Service postal system Postal-Processing Machines Postalsoft Postament postauricular hearing aid Postavy postbuckling strength postcard paper postcardware postcentral gyrus postcentral sulcus postcollision interaction postcure bonding postcure finish POSTDATA postdecrementing postdeflection accelerating electrode	post-trauma response post-trauma syndrome post-traumatic Post-Traumatic Activity Level post-traumatic amnesia post-traumatic amnesia post-traumatic amnesia Post-Traumatic Checklist Scale post-traumatic chorioretinopathy Post-Traumatic Cognitions Inventory Post-Traumatic Embitterment Disorder Post-Traumatic Funk Syndrome Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory Post-Traumatic Headache Post-Traumatic Mood Disorder Post-Traumatic Multiple Organ Failure post-traumatic osteoporosis post-traumatic osteoporosis post-traumatic osteoporosis Post-Traumatic Pulmonary Insufficiency post-traumatic sarcoma post-traumatic sarcoma post-traumatic sarcoma Post-Traumatic Spinal Cord Cyst post-traumatic spondylitis post-traumatic spondylitis post-traumatic spondylitis Post-traumatic stress Post-traumatic stress Post-traumatic stress post-traumatic stress disorder Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Index Post-traumatic stress reaction Post-traumatic stress reaction Post-traumatic stress reaction Post-traumatic stress syndrome Post-traumatic stress syndrome Post-traumatic stress syndrome Post-Traumatic Symptom Scale Post-Traumatic Syndrome Post-Treatment Follow-Up Survey Post-Treatment Reactive Encephalopathy Post-Treatment Resource Program Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure post-tussive suction post-tussive suction post-tussive suction Post-tympanic Post-Universaldienstleistungsverordnung Post-Urinary Drip Post-Vacation Depression Syndrome Post-Vacation Stress Disorder Post-Vaccination Syndrome Post-Vasectomy Post-Vasectomy Pain Post-Vasectomy Pain Syndrome Post-Vasectomy Semen Analysis Post-Vention Post-Venture Capital Index Post-viral fatigue syndrome Post-viral fatigue syndrome

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Conquering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Victoria Lemle Beckner & John B.

Conquering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder by Internet Bookwatch

Trauma victims who develop post-traumatic stress disorder often have higher levels of other stimulating hormones (catecholamines) under normal conditions in which the threat of trauma is not present.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD - War Trauma) by Carolyn Clayton / Law community

95 Paperback Explorations in metapsychology series RC552 In this update of the 2005 edition, Volkman (TIR Association, Ann Arbor, Michigan) introduces Traumatic Incident Reduction as a desensitization technique derived from humanistic psychology for treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Traumatic incident reduction; research and results, 2d ed by SciTech Book News

Post, Telephone and Telegraph administration

Post, Wiley

post-and-beam construction

post-and-beam framing

post-and-beam system

post-and-girt framing

post-and-lintel

post-and-lintel construction

post-and-rail construction

post-and-rail fence

post-and-truss