Trauma, Critical Care and Emergency Medicine

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can develop to a person when he/she is exposed to a traumatic event such as violent sexual assault, warfare, or other serious threats on a person’s life. Symptoms include disturbed thoughts, feelings, or dreams related to the events, mental or physical distress to trauma-related cues, alterations in how a person thinks and feels, and increase in fight or fight response. A person with PTSD is at a higher risk for suicide and intentional self-harm. Children are less likely than adults to develop PTSD after trauma, especially if they are under ten years of age. Prevention may be possible when therapy is targeted at those with early symptoms but is not effective when carried out among all people following trauma. The main treatments for people with PTSD are counselling and medication.