Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Criteria, Causes, and Treatment
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Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MDFact checked by Karen Cilli
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder involving extreme distress and disruption of daily living that happens after exposure to a traumatic event. About 6% of the U.S. population will experience PTSD during their lives.
To diagnose PTSD, a mental health professional references the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) and evaluates whether or not the patient meets the criteria. The criteria in the fifth edition are somewhat different than the criteria in the fourth edition.
Symptoms of PTSD
The DSM-5 divides PTSD symptoms into four categories:
Avoidance of thoughts and behaviors
Negative changes in thoughts and mood
Changes in arousal and reactivity
These symptoms are associated with a traumatic event. Each of the four categories includes a group of related symptoms.
Intrusion
These symptoms are related to intrusive thoughts and memories of the traumatic event.
Reoccurring, involuntary, and intrusive upsetting memories of the event
Repeated upsetting dreams related to the event
Dissociation (for example, flashbacks, feeling as though the event is happening again)
Strong and persistent distress to cues connected to the event that are either inside or outside of the body
Strong bodily reactions (for example, increased heart rate) when reminded of the event
Avoidance
People with PTSD may avoid people, places, conversations, activities, objects, or situations that bring up memories of the event. They may also avoid thoughts, feelings, or physical sensations that recall the event.
Negative Changes in Thoughts and Mood
People with PTSD may experience a pervasive negative emotional state (for example, shame, anger, or fear). Other symptoms in this category include:
Inability to remember an important aspect of the event
Persistent and elevated negative evaluations about oneself, others, or the world (for example, "I am unlovable," or "The world is an evil place")
Elevated self-blame or blame of others about the cause or consequence of the event
Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities
Feeling detached from others
Inability to experience positive emotions (for example, happiness, love, joy)
Changes in Arousal and Reactivity
People with PTSD often feel constantly "on guard" or like danger is lurking around every corner (also known as hypervigilance). Related symptoms include:
Difficulty concentrating
Heightened startle response
Impulsive or self-destructive behavior
Irritability or aggressive behavior
Problems sleeping
Related:Coping With Symptoms After a Traumatic Experience
Diagnosis of PTSD
The first criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD listed in the DSM-5 is exposure to one or more traumatic event(s), which is defined as one that involved death or threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence.
Experiencing the event could be direct, but it doesn't have to be. Exposure could also occur indirectly, such as:
Witnessing the event as it occurred to someone else
Learning about an event where a close friend or relative experienced an actual or threatened violent or accidental death
Having repeated exposure to distressing details of an event, such as a police officer repeatedly hearing details about child sexual abuse
Once the exposure has occurred, PTSD symptoms are evaluated for a diagnosis.
In order to be diagnosed with PTSD, the following criteria should be met:
Exposure to the traumatic event
One (or more) intrusion symptom(s)
One (or more) symptom(s) of avoidance
Two (or more) symptoms of negative changes in feelings and mood
Two (or more) symptoms of changes in arousal or reactivity
These symptoms also must:
Last for longer than one month
Bring about considerable distress and/or interfere greatly with a number of different areas of life
Not be due to a medical condition or substance use
Changes in the DSM-5
The biggest change in the DSM-5 is removing PTSD from the category of anxiety disorders and putting it in a classification called "Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders."
Other key changes include:
More clearly defining what kind of events are considered traumatic
Adding different types of exposure to the event
Increasing the number of symptom groups from three to four by separating avoidance symptoms into their own group
Changing the wording of some of the symptoms
Adding a new set of criteria for children aged 6 or younger
Eliminating acute and chronic phases
Introducing a new specifier called dissociative features
Causes
PTSD is caused by exposure to trauma. However, it's not clear why some people develop PTSD after traumatic events while others do not. There are some risk factors that can make someone more likely to develop it than others. For example, genetics may play a role. It's also more common in women than men.
Other risk factors include:
A lack of social support following the event
An experience of past trauma
History of mental illness
History of substance use
Related:Causes and Risk Factors of PTSD
Types of PTSD
There are different types of PTSD, including:
Complex PTSD: Characterized by a series of traumatic events occurring over time and typically earlier in life. Notably, complex PTSD is not listed in the DSM-5.
Delayed expression: Before the DSM-5, this type of PTSD was referred to as "delayed onset." It occurs when someone is diagnosed at least six months after the traumatic event took place.
Dissociative: In addition to meeting criteria for a PTSD diagnosis, this subtype—classified specifically as "with dissociative symptoms"—requires symptoms of depersonalization or derealization.
Acute stress disorder is related to PTSD. While it shares some symptoms, a PTSD diagnosis requires symptoms are present for more than a month, whereas someone with acute stress disorder could experience symptoms for just three days to one month.
Acute and chronic PTSD are no longer used in the DSM-5. Acute referred to PTSD symptoms lasting less than three months and chronic referred to symptoms lasting more than three months.
Treatment
Treatment for PTSD can involve medication, psychotherapy, or both. Consult a mental health professional to find the best treatment for you.
Medication
Antidepressants, specifically selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are typically considered the first-line medication option to treat PTSD. These can help someone with PTSD with mood, anxiety, eating, and sleep.
Zoloft (sertraline) and Paxil (paroxetine) are FDA-approved to treat PTSD. Other drugs that have been shown to be effective for PTSD include Prozac (fluoxetine) as well as Effexor XR (venlafaxine), which is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). In addition, there are other medications that may be used to treat PTSD. Be sure to discuss your options with your healthcare provider.
Related:The Relationship Between PTSD and Depression
Psychotherapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of talk therapy that has been found to be effective for treating the symptoms of PTSD. CBT may help manage your symptoms by working to change your beliefs and behaviors. Other types of psychotherapy that may be used for PTSD include:
Coping
PTSD gets in the way of everyday life, and it's important to take good care of yourself to manage it. These ways to cope are known to be effective.
Mindfulness practice
Support groups and supportive relationships with loved ones
Abstinence from drugs and alcohol
If you or a loved one are struggling with PTSD, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
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