Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a Trauma/Stress Disorder that consists of a distinct change in behavior and decrease in quality of life after one experiences a trauma. Not only does PTSD manifest it many different ways depending on the type of trauma and the person’s lifestyle prior, but many people with PTSD would also qualify for at least one other diagnosis, making it difficult to describe the disorder in a concise list of symptoms. Additionally, some of its symptoms can often appear as typical personality traits, which in television can cause “accidental PTSD” without a writing team’s awareness. Regardless, the American Psychiatric Association has defined PTSD with eight key categories of symptoms.