Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

1. Syndrome of anxiety symptoms that occurs following *exposure to a significantly stressful event*; symptoms typically begin within 3 months of event.

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Treatment = SSRIs, MAOIs, or mood stabilizers; psychotherapy may also be helpful in eliminating intrusive thoughts

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How is acute stress disorder different than posttraumatic stress disorder?

Acute stress disorder has symptoms lasting less than 4 weeks while PTSD has symptoms lasting more than 4 weeks

H/P = a. *Vivid dreams or recurrent intrusive thoughts* of traumatic event b. Avoidance of activity or settings associated with event, anhedonia, feelings of *detachment*, increased state of arousal, survivor guilt, social withdrawal

c. Diagnosis requires patient to have been *exposed to a traumatic event* that caused significant distress, *symptoms of reliving the event* through dreams or intrusive thoughts, *avoidance* of associations with the event, and *increased arousal* (e.g., insomnia, irritability, difficulty concentrating) lasting >1 month in acute cases and >3 months in chronic cases