Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as violence, serious injury, or disaster. Symptoms must persist for more than one month and cause significant distress or impairment in daily life2. PTSD is defined by four core symptom clusters: intrusive memories or flashbacks, avoidance of trauma reminders, negative mood or thoughts, and increased arousal or reactivity3.
PTSD affects approximately 3.6% of U.S. adults annually, with lifetime prevalence around 6.8%. Women are nearly three times more likely than men to be affected3.
First-line treatment includes trauma-focused psychotherapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), and EMDR1,3. Primary care and behavioral health providers play a key role in early identification, initial management, and coordination of care. Integrated, trauma-informed treatment improves patient outcomes and quality of life.
- American Academy of Family Physicians. (2023). Post-traumatic stress disorder: Evaluation and treatment.
- American Psychiatric Association. (2023). What is PTSD?
- National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Post-traumatic stress disorder.
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