Post-traumatic stress disorder
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The term Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was
first used after the Vietnam War and formalized in 1980 with its
inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
developed by the American Psychiatric Association.
PTSD was called 'shell shock' or 'battle fatigue syndrome',
because it first came to prominence during the First World War. It has
only recently been recognised that traumatic events outside the war
situation can have similar effects.
Causes
Post-traumatic
stress disorder may occur after any major traumatic event. NICE
(National Institute of Clinical Excellence) guidelines 2004 refer to
PTSD occurring after "a significantly stressful event that has
presented as exceptionally threatening or catastrophic in nature".
25-30% of those exposed to a traumatic event may go on to develop PTSD
(1 in 4).
Major traumatic event examples given in literature are as listed below.
- Major disaster
- Terrorist threat / attack
- Major road accident
- Abuse, rape, personal attack or violence
- Life-threatening situation
Experiences
may be direct to the individual or witnessed as an onlooker (i.e. a
emergency worker attending a major road accident).
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