文档介绍：Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder
(PTSD)
National Institute of Mental Health
. Department of HealtH anD HUman ServiceS • national institutes of Health
Contents
What is post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD? 1
Who gets PTSD? 1
What are the symptoms of PTSD? 1
Do children react differently than adults? 3
How is PTSD detected? 3
Why do some people get PTSD and other people do not? 4
How is PTSD treated? 5
Psychotherapy 5
Medications 6
Other medications 8
Treatment after mass trauma 8
What efforts are under way to improve the detection
and treatment of PTSD? 10
How can I help a friend or relative who has PTSD? 11
How can I help myself? 11
Where can I go for help?
12
What if I or someone I know is in crisis?
13
Citations 13
For more information on post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
14
What is post-traumatic stress
disorder, or PTSD?
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that some people get after
seeing or living through a dangerous event.
When in danger, it’s natural to feel afraid. This fear trig­
gers many split-second changes in the body to prepare
to defend against the danger or to avoid it. This “fight-or-flight” response is a
healthy reaction meant to protect a person from harm. But in PTSD, this reaction
is changed or damaged. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened
even when they’re no longer in danger.
Who gets PTSD?
Anyone can get PTSD at any age. This includes war veterans and survivors of
physical and sexual assault, abuse, accidents, disasters, and many other serious
events.
Not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous event. Some people get
PTSD after a friend or family member experiences danger or is harmed. The sud­
den, unexpected death of a loved one can also cause PTSD.
What are the symptoms of PTSD?
PTSD can cause many symptoms. These symptoms can be grouped into three
categories:
1. Re-experiencing symptoms:
• Flashbacks