Post-traumatic stress disorder

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			Post-traumatic stress disorder
			
					Introduction
				
					Section 1: Models of PTSD
				
					Section 2: Epidemiology, prognosis and prevention
				
					Section 3: Treatment
				
					Summary
				
					Appendix: transcripts

Printable version

Post-traumatic stress disorder

by Professor Jonathan Bisson

Both the patient’s physical and mental health are covered here. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was first included as a diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1980, and since then it has become recognised as a major cause of distress and suffering following traumatic events.

Common symptoms of PTSD include recurring recollections and dreams related to the traumatic event, avoidance and numbing, and hypervigilance. Recent reviews have consistently recommended trauma-focused psychological therapies as a first-line treatment for PTSD, although pharmacological treatments have also been found to be effective in some cases.

This module will introduce the different biological, psychological and social models of PTSD. It will also provide up-to-date information on the epidemiology of PTSD and explain how the disorder can be effectively prevented and treated.

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