PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder)

• PTSD ( Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) occurs in 1-3% of population.

• 30% of Vietnam veterans have PTSD.

	Answer the following questions	YES	NO
1	Have you ever been exposed to a traumatic event in which you experienced intense fear, helplessness or horror?
2	Do you reexperience the event as recurrent recollections, dreams or flashbacks?
3	Do you have increased anxiety at exposure to cues that symbolize or resemble the event?
4	Avoidance of stimuli associated with trauma or general numbing: Do you avoid thoughts, feelings or conversations regarding the traumatic event? Do you avoid activities, places or people that arouse the recollection of trauma? Did you lose interest in participating in activities? Do you feel detached from others? Are you unable to recall an important aspect of the trauma? Do you think you have a foreshortened future?
5	Increased arousal: Difficulties falling or staying asleep Irritability Poor concentration Hypervigilence Exaggerated startle response

  If you answered with YES to most of the above questions you might have PTSD and you could benefit from psychiatric treatment ( medication, individual or group psychotherapy)