Symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder
Symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources
for Post-traumatic stress disorder includes the 22
symptoms listed below:
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Post-traumatic stress disorder: Complications
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Post-traumatic stress disorder Symptoms: Book Excerpts
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Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms
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Medical Books Online about Post-traumatic stress disorder
Medical Books Excerpts
Excerpts of published medical book chapters related to Post-traumatic stress disorder
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for more detailed information about Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
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Symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder: Online Medical Books
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for more information about the symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Posttraumatic stress disorder:
Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
The psychosocial history of a patient with PTSD may reveal early life experiences, interpersonal factors, military experiences, or other incidents that suggest the precipitating event. Typically, the patient may report that his symptoms began immediately or soon after the trauma, although they may not develop until months or years later. In such a case, avoidance symptoms usually have been present during the latency period.
Symptoms include pangs of painful emotion and unwelcome thoughts; intrusive memories; dissociative episodes (flashbacks); a traumatic reexperiencing of the event; difficulty falling or staying asleep, frequent nightmares of the traumatic event, and aggressive outbursts on awakening; emotional numbing (diminished or constricted response); and chronic anxiety or panic attacks (with physical signs and symptoms).
The patient may display rage and survivor guilt, use of violence to solve problems, depression and suicidal thoughts, phobic avoidance of situations that arouse memories of the traumatic event (such as hot weather and tall grasses for the Vietnam veteran), memory impairment or difficulty concentrating, and feelings of detachment or estrangement that destroy interpersonal relationships. Some have physical symptoms, fantasies of retaliation, and substance abuse.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Traumatic amputation:
Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
The obvious sign of amputation is a body part that has been cut off. Every traumatic amputee requires careful monitoring of vital signs. If amputation involves more than a finger or toe, assessment of airway, breathing, and circulation is also required. Because profuse bleeding is likely, watch for signs of hypovolemic shock, and draw blood for a hemoglobin level, hematocrit, and type and crossmatch. In partial amputation, check for pulses distal to the amputation site. After any traumatic amputation, assess for other traumatic injuries as well. The patient may exhibit crushed body tissue, in which the body part is badly mangled but still partially attached by muscle, bone, tendon, or skin.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Posttraumatic stress disorder:
Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)
The psychosocial history of a patient with posttraumatic stress disorder may reveal early life experiences, interpersonal factors, military experiences, or other incidents that suggest the precipitating event. Typically, the patient may report that his symptoms began immediately or soon after the trauma, although they may not develop until months or years later. In such a case, avoidance symptoms usually have been present during the latency period.
Signs and symptoms include pangs of painful emotion and unwelcome thoughts; intrusive memories; dissociative episodes (flashbacks); a traumatic reexperiencing of the event; difficulty falling or staying asleep, frequent nightmares of the traumatic event, and aggressive outbursts on awakening; emotional numbing (diminished or constricted response); and chronic anxiety or panic attacks (with physical signs and symptoms).
The patient may display rage and survivor guilt, use of violence to solve problems, depression and suicidal thoughts, and phobic avoidance of situations that arouse memories of the traumatic event (such as hot weather and tall grasses for the Vietnam veteran).
Other symptoms include memory impairment or difficulty concentrating and feelings of detachment or estrangement that destroy interpersonal relationships. Some have physical symptoms, fantasies of retaliation, and substance abuse problems.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: NWHIC (Excerpt)
Whatever the source of the problem, some people with PTSD repeatedly
relive the trauma in the form of nightmares and disturbing recollections
during the day. They may also experience sleep problems, depression,
feeling detached or numb, or being easily startled. They may lose interest
in things they used to enjoy and have trouble feeling affectionate. They
may feel irritable, more aggressive than before, or even violent. Seeing
things that remind them of the incident may be very distressing, which
could lead them to avoid certain places or situations that bring back
those memories. Anniversaries of the event are often very difficult. (Source: excerpt from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: NWHIC)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: NWHIC (Excerpt)
Symptoms may be
mild or severe -- people may become easily irritated or have violent
outbursts. In severe cases, they may have trouble working or socializing.
In general, the symptoms seem to be worse if the event that triggered them
was initiated by a person -- such as a rape, as opposed to a flood. (Source: excerpt from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: NWHIC)
Stress: NWHIC (Excerpt)
Many people with PTSD repeatedly re-experience the ordeal in the form
of flashback episodes, memories, nightmares, or frightening thoughts,
especially when they are exposed to events or objects that remind them of
the trauma. Anniversaries of the event can also trigger symptoms.
People with PTSD also experience emotional numbness and sleep
disturbances, depression, anxiety, and irritability or outbursts of anger.
Feelings of intense guilt (called survivor guilt) are also common,
particularly if others did not survive the traumatic event. (Source: excerpt from Stress: NWHIC)
Anxiety Disorders: NIMH (Excerpt)
The disturbing thoughts or images are called obsessions, and the
rituals that are performed to try to prevent or get rid of them are called
compulsions. There is no pleasure in carrying out the rituals you are
drawn to, only temporary relief from the anxiety that grows when you don't
perform them. (Source: excerpt from Anxiety Disorders: NIMH)
Anxiety Disorders: NIMH (Excerpt)
"I was raped when I was 25 years old. For a long time, I spoke
about the rape as though it was something that happened to someone else. I
was very aware that it had happened to me, but there was just no
feeling.
"Then I started having flashbacks. They kind of came over me like
a splash of water. I would be terrified. Suddenly I was reliving the rape.
Every instant was startling. I wasn't aware of anything around me, I was
in a bubble, just kind of floating. And it was scary. Having a flashback
can wring you out.
"The rape happened the week before Thanksgiving, and I can't
believe the anxiety and fear I feel every year around the anniversary
date. It's as though I've seen a werewolf. I can't relax, can't sleep,
don't want to be with anyone. I wonder whether I'll ever be free of this
terrible problem." (Source: excerpt from Anxiety Disorders: NIMH)
Anxiety Disorders: NIMH (Excerpt)
Ordinary events can serve as reminders of the trauma and trigger
flashbacks or intrusive images. A person having a flashback, which can
come in the form of images, sounds, smells, or feelings, may lose touch
with reality and believe that the traumatic event is happening all over
again. (Source: excerpt from Anxiety Disorders: NIMH)
Facts about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: NIMH (Excerpt)
Many people with PTSD repeatedly
re-experience the ordeal in the form of flashback episodes, memories,
nightmares, or frightening thoughts, especially when they are exposed to
events or objects reminiscent of the trauma. Anniversaries of the event
can also trigger symptoms. People with PTSD also experience emotional
numbness and sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and irritability or
outbursts of anger. Feelings of intense guilt are also common. Most people
with PTSD try to avoid any reminders or thoughts of the ordeal. PTSD is
diagnosed when symptoms last more than 1 month.
(Source: excerpt from Facts about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: NIMH)
Facts about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: NIMH (Excerpt)
Headaches, gastrointestinal complaints, immune system problems,
dizziness, chest pain, or discomfort in other parts of the body are
common. Often, doctors treat the symptoms without being aware that they
stem from PTSD. NIMH encourages primary care providers to ask patients
about experiences with violence, recent losses, and traumatic events,
especially if symptoms keep recurring. When PTSD is diagnosed, referral to
a mental health professional who has had experience treating people with
the disorder is recommended.
(Source: excerpt from Facts about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: NIMH)
Post-traumatic stress disorder: Onset and Incubation
Incubation period for Post-traumatic stress disorder: less than 3 months
Incubation period for Post-traumatic stress disorder: Symptoms typically begin within 3 months of a traumatic
event, although occasionally they do not begin until years later. Once
PTSD occurs, the severity and duration of the illness varies. Some people
recover within 6 months, while others suffer much longer.
(Source: excerpt from Facts about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: NIMH)
Medical articles and books on symptoms:
These general reference articles may be of interest
in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:
Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis
About signs and symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder:
The symptom information on this page
attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder.
This signs and symptoms information for Post-traumatic stress disorder has been gathered from various sources,
may not be fully accurate,
and may not be the full list of Post-traumatic stress disorder signs or Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.
Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder may vary on an individual basis for each patient.
Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they
are indeed Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.
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