Acute and Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Definition
A post-traumatic stress disorder is the only anxiety
disorder that, per definition, was caused by a traumatic
event. Therefore, this diagnosis can only be made if
the person has experienced a trauma and if there are
symptoms from the symptom cluster triad: experience
distressing recollections of the event (e. g. flashbacks or
nightmares), avoidance (e. g. apathy, emotional detachment,
avoidance of places or persons connected with
the trauma) and hyperarousal (e. g. insomnia, irritability,
hyper vigilance). The symptoms of an acute stress
disorder begin during or shortly following the trauma.
Persons suffering from PTSD can also show dissociation.
If the symptoms and behavioral disturbances
of the acute stress disorder persist for more than one
month, and if these features are associated with functional
impairment or significant distress to the sufferer,
the diagnosis is changed to post-traumatic stress disorder.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is further defined in
DSM-IV as having three subforms: acute (< 3 months’
duration), chronic (≥3 months’ duration), and delayed
onset (symptoms began at least 6 months after exposure
to the trauma).
Cross-References
Anxiety Disorders
Tags: acute stress disorder, anxiety disorder, anxiety disorders, apathy, avoidance, behavioral disturbances, cross references, dissociation, dsm iv, emotional detachment, flashbacks, functional impairment, hyper vigilance, irritability, post traumatic stress, post traumatic stress disorder, recollections, sufferer, traumatic event, traumatic stress disorder