الفهرس 
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Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a well recognized
psychiatric disorder that can occur following a major traumatic
event. characteristic symptoms include re-experiencing
phenomena such as nightmares and recurrent distressing thoughts
of the event, avoidance and numbing of general responsiveness
such as trying not to talk about or be reminded of the traumatic
event, experiencing detachment and estrangement from other
people and hyperarousal symptoms including sleep disturbance,
increased irritability and hypervigilance.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is now included in a
new chapter in DSM-5 on Trauma- and Stressor-Related
Disorders. This move from DSM-IV, which addressed PTSD as
an anxiety disorder, is among several changes approved for this
condition that is increasingly at the center of public as well as
professional discussion.
Compared to DSM-IV, the diagnostic criteria for DSM-5
draw a clearer line when detailing what constitutes a traumatic
event. Sexual assault is specifically included, for example, as is a
recurring exposure that could apply to police officers or first
responders. Language stipulating an individual’s response to the
event—intense fear, helplessness or horror, according to DSM has been deleted because that criterion proved to have no
utility in predicting the onset of PTSD.
DSM-5 pays more attention to the behavioral symptoms
that accompany PTSD and proposes four distinct diagnostic
clusters instead of three. They are described as re-experiencing,
avoidance, negative cognitions and mood, and arousal.
Re-experiencing covers spontaneous memories of the
traumatic event, recurrent dreams related to it, flashbacks or other
intense or prolonged psychological distress. Avoidance refers to
distressing memories, thoughts, feelings or external reminders of
the event.
Negative cognitions and mood represents myriad feelings,
from a persistent and distorted sense of blame of self or others, to
estrangement from others or markedly diminished interest in
activities, to an inability to remember key aspects of the event.
Finally, arousal is marked by aggressive, reckless or selfdestructive
behavior, sleep disturbances, hyper-vigilance or
related problems. The current manual emphasizes the “flight”
aspect associated with PTSD; the criteria of DSM-5 also account
for the “fight” reaction often seen.