Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops after a terrifying ordeal that involved physical harm or the threat of physical harm. The person who develops PTSD may have been the one who was harmed, the harm may have happened to a loved one, or the person may have witnessed a harmful event that happened to loved ones or strangers.
PTSD was first brought to public attention in relation to war veterans, but it can result from a variety of traumatic incidents, such as mugging, rape, torture, being kidnapped or held captive, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, or natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes.
People with PTSD may startle easily, become emotionally numb (especially in relation to people with whom they used to be close), lose interest in things they used to enjoy, have trouble feeling affectionate, be irritable, become more aggressive, or even become violent. They avoid situations that remind them of the original incident, and anniversaries of the incident are often very difficult. PTSD symptoms seem to be worse if the event that triggered them was deliberately initiated by another person, as in a mugging or a kidnapping. Most people with PTSD repeatedly relive the trauma in their thoughts during the day and in nightmares when they sleep. These are called flashbacks. Flashbacks may consist of images, sounds, smells, or feelings, and are often triggered by ordinary occurrences, such as a door slamming or a car backfiring on the street. A person having a flashback may lose touch with reality and believe that the traumatic incident is happening all over again.
Not every traumatized person develops full-blown or even minor PTSD. Symptoms usually begin within 3 months of the incident but occasionally emerge years afterward. They must last more than a month to be considered PTSD. The course of the illness varies. Some people recover within 6 months, while others have symptoms that last much longer. In some people, the condition becomes chronic.
PTSD affects about 7.7 million American adults, but it can occur at any age, including childhood. Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men, and there is some evidence that vulnerability to the disorder may run in families. PTSD is often accompanied by depression, substance abuse, or one or more of the other anxiety disorders.
Additional Resources
Publications
Accommodation and Compliance Series: Employees with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - This publication for employers contains basic information regarding questions that might be considered when determining accommodations for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder. This article discusses the issues that can affect these individuals, offers suggestions for employers and also includes example scenarios as well as a list of resources for further information.
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/ptsd.html
Answers in the Aftermath - This brochure offers answers to commonly asked questions about post-traumatic stress disorder and how to deal with trauma in the aftermath of events. It provides useful tips for beginning the healing process and gives resources for additional help or information.
http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA05-4027/lovedoneforprint.asp...
Anxiety Disorders - This publication provides information about the different anxiety disorders, including OCD, panic disorder, and social phobia to name a few.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/anxiety.cfm
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Children and Adolescents - This brief fact sheet, written by the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, provides information about PTSD symptoms in children.
http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_children.html
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, A Real Illness - This publication discusses the causes of post-traumatic stress disorder and the importance of getting help for symptoms. It also provides a checklist of symptoms to understand how the disorder can affect an individual both physically and mentally.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-a-real-illness/summary.shtml...
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - This page links to helpful information from the National Institute of Mental Health about PTSD.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml...
Organizations
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National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
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National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, HHS
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National Mental Health Information Center, SAMHSA, HHS
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Anxiety Disorders Association of America
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Mental Health America
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Sidran Institute
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Veterans’ Families United
= Indicates Federal Resources
Content last updated April 30, 2008.