PTSD

Post traumatic stress disorder
The following criteria apply to adults, adolescents, and children older than 6 years. For children 6 years and
younger, see the DSM-5 section titled “Posttraumatic Stress Disorder for Children 6 Years and Younger” (APA,
2013a).
● Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence in one (or more) of the following
ways:
1. Directly experiencing the traumatic event(s).
2. Witnessing, in person, the event(s) as it occurred to others.
3. Learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or close friend. In cases of actual or
threatened death of a family member or friend, the event(s) must have been violent or accidental.
4. Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event(s) (e.g., first
responders collecting human remains; police officers repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse). Note:
Criterion A4 does not apply to exposure through electronic media, television, movies, or pictures, unless
this exposure is work related.
● Presence of one (or more) of the following intrusion symptoms associated with the traumatic event(s),
beginning after the traumatic event(s) occurred:
1. Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic event(s). Note: In children older
than 6 years, repetitive play may occur in which themes or aspects of the traumatic event(s) are expressed.
2. Recurrent distressing dreams in which the content and/or affect of the dream are related to the traumatic
event(s). Note: In children, there may be frightening dreams without recognizable content.
3. Dissociative reactions (e.g., flashbacks) in which the individual feels or acts as if the traumatic event(s)
were recurring. (Such reactions may occur on a continuum, with the most extreme expression being a
complete loss of awareness of present surroundings.) Note: In children, trauma-specific reenactment may
occur in play.
4. Intense or prolonged psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or
resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s).
5. Marked physiological reactions to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the
traumatic event(s).
● Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning after the traumatic event(s)
occurred, as evidenced by one or both of the following:
1. Avoidance of or efforts to avoid distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with
the traumatic event(s).
2. Avoidance of or efforts to avoid external reminders (people, places, conversations, activities, objects,
situations) that arouse distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the
traumatic event(s).
● Negative alterations in cognitions and mood associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning or worsening
after the traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidenced by two (or more) of the following:
1. Inability to remember an important aspect of the traumatic event(s) (typically due to dissociative amnesia,
and not to other factors such as head injury, alcohol, or drugs).
2. Persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs or expectations about oneself, others, or the world (e.g., “I am
bad,” “No one can be trusted,” “The world is completely dangerous,” “My whole nervous system is
permanently ruined”).
3. Persistent, distorted cognitions about the cause or consequences of the traumatic event(s) that lead the
individual to blame himself/herself or others.
4. Persistent negative emotional state (e.g., fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame).
5. Markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities.
6. Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others.
7. Persistent inability to experience positive emotions (e.g., inability to experience happiness, satisfaction, or
loving feelings).
● Marked alterations in arousal and reactivity associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning or worsening
after the traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidenced by two (or more) of the following:
1. Irritable behavior and angry outbursts (with little or no provocation), typically expressed as verbal or
physical aggression toward people or objects.
2. Reckless or self-destructive behavior.
3. Hypervigilance.
4. Exaggerated startle response.
5. Problems with concentration.
6. Sleep disturbance (e.g., difficulty falling or staying asleep or restless sleep).
● Duration of the disturbance (Criteria B, C, D and E) is more than 1 month.
● The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other
important areas of functioning.
● The disturbance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., medication, alcohol) or
another medical condition.
Specify whether:
● With dissociative symptoms: The individual’s symptoms meet the criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder,
and in addition, in response to the stressor, the individual experiences persistent or recurrent symptoms of
either of the following:
● Depersonalization: Persistent or recurrent experiences of feeling detached from, and as if one were an
outside observer of, one’s mental processes or body (e.g., feeling as though one were in a dream; feeling a
sense of unreality of self or body or of time moving slowly).
● Derealization: Persistent or recurrent experiences of unreality of surroundings (e.g., the world around the
individual is experienced as unreal, dreamlike, distant, or distorted). Note: To use this subtype, the
dissociative symptoms must not be attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., blackouts,
behavior during alcohol intoxication) or another medical condition (e.g., complex partial seizures).
Specify whether:
● With delayed expression: If the full diagnostic criteria are not met until at least 6 months after the event
(although the onset and expression of some symptoms may be immediate).
Reference
American Psychiatric Association. (2013).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.).
Washington, DC.

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