Symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder

List of 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:

• Nightmares
• Persistent daily thoughts
• Persistent memories
• Flashbacks
• Emotional problems
  • Emotionally numbness
  • Detachment
  • Trouble feeling affectionate
  • Startling easily
  • Irritability
  • Aggression
  • Losing interest
  • Feelings of intense guilt
• Physical symptoms
  • Headaches
  • Gastrointestinal complaints
  • Immune system problems
  • Dizziness
  • Chest pain
  • Body aches
• Social problems
• Sleep problems

Note that Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Post-traumatic stress disorder signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor.

More ways to research these symptoms: To research other symptoms use the symptom center, or to research causes of more than one symptom in combination, try our multi-symptom search.

Research More About Post-traumatic stress disorder

Do I have Post-traumatic stress disorder?

• Post-traumatic stress disorder: Introduction
• Post-traumatic stress disorder: Diagnostic Testing to confirm diagnosis
• Home Diagnostic Testing
• Alternative diagnoses and misdiagnosis for Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Failure to Diagnose Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Hidden Causes of Post-traumatic stress disorder
• How serious is it?
• Treatments for Post-traumatic stress disorder
• More about Post-traumatic stress disorder

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical tests related to Post-traumatic stress disorder:

• Mental Health: Home Testing:
  • Home Emotional Stress Tests

Wrongly Diagnosed with Post-traumatic stress disorder?

The list of other diseases or medical conditions that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses for Post-traumatic stress disorder includes:

• Adjustment disorder
• Brief psychotic disorder
• Clinical depression
• Acute stress disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder

See the full list of 13 alternative diagnoses for Post-traumatic stress disorder

More about symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder:

More information about symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder and related conditions:

• Other diseases with similar symptoms and common misdiagnoses
• Tests to determine if these are the symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Symptoms that may be caused by complications of Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Underlying causes of Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Associated conditions for Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Risk factors for Post-traumatic stress disorder

Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms

Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions, or drug side effect causes of that symptom.

• Aggression - see all causes of Aggression
• Body aches - see all causes of Aches
• Chest pain - see all causes of Chest pain
• Detachment - see all causes of Detachment
• Dizziness - see all causes of Dizziness
• Emotional problems - see all causes of Emotional symptoms
• Emotionally numbness - see all causes of Numbness
• Feelings of intense guilt - see all causes of Guilt
• Flashbacks - see all causes of Memory symptoms
• Gastrointestinal complaints - see all causes of Digestive symptoms
• Headaches - see all causes of Headache
• Immune system problems - see all causes of Immune symptoms
• Irritability - see all causes of Irritability
• Losing interest - see all causes of Detachment
• Nightmares - see all causes of Nightmares
• Persistent daily thoughts - see all causes of Mental problems
• Persistent memories - see all causes of Mental problems
• Physical symptoms
• Sleep problems - see all causes of Sleep symptoms
• Social problems - see all causes of Social problems
• Startling easily - see all causes of Startling
• Trouble feeling affectionate - see all causes of Detachment

Medical Books Online about Post-traumatic stress disorder

Medical Books Excerpts Excerpts of published medical book chapters related to Post-traumatic stress disorder are available from published medical books 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

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, 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 »

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 »

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 »

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)

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:

• Diagnostic Testing for a Diagnosis of Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Research Alternative Diagnoses for Post-traumatic stress disorder
• How serious is Post-traumatic stress disorder?
• More about Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Online Diagnosis
• Self Diagnosis Pitfalls
• Pitfalls of Online Diagnosis
• Symptoms of the Silent Killer Diseases
• Lesser known silent killer diseases
• Books on signs and symptoms

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.