Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can occur after individual experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. Symptoms of PTSD can include flashbacks, nightmares, difficulty sleeping, irritability, and feeling on edge. To be diagnosed with PTSD, patients must meet the criteria outlined by the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Let’s discuss what those criteria are.
The DSM-5 outlines four major criteria for diagnosing PTSD. The first criterion is the presence of one or more traumatic events experienced or witnessed by the patient. This can include physical assaults, sexual violence, natural disasters, accidents, military combat, or other life-threatening situations.
The second criterion requires symptoms in four different categories. These categories are intrusive thoughts—such as flashbacks or nightmares—avoidance behaviors related to the trauma—such as avoiding places or people associated with it—negative thoughts and moods such as guilt and shame—and hyperarousal symptoms such as difficulty sleeping and feeling on edge.
The third criterion requires that these symptoms last longer than one month following the trauma. Additionally, they must cause significant distress or impairment in social functioning in order to constitute a diagnosis of PTSD. The final criterion states that any diagnosis made must not be better explained by another medical condition, such as substance abuse or another mental disorder like depression.
Diagnostic Criteria for PTSD
The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) outlines the criteria for diagnosing PTSD. These criteria include experiencing or witnessing at least one traumatic event, having symptoms lasting longer than one month, and having symptoms that cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning. To be diagnosed with PTSD, individuals must have at least one symptom from each of the four categories outlined below:
1. Intrusion Symptoms
Intrusion symptoms refer to the re-experiencing of the traumatic event through flashbacks or nightmares. It is as if the experience is being relived again and again, regardless of its actual duration in time. These memories can be triggered by everyday occurrences, such as sounds or smells that remind you of the traumatic event. Memories may also come without warning or provocation; they can be sudden and overwhelming.
2. Avoidance Symptoms
The main symptom associated with PTSD is avoidance behavior. People with PTSD may avoid any trauma reminders, including people, places, activities, objects, or emotions that bring back memories of the experience. They may try to forget about what happened or deny it ever occurred in order to avoid the pain associated with it. As a result, individuals with this condition often isolate themselves from others and become more reclusive than before the trauma occurred.
3. Negative Thoughts & Feelings
Negative thoughts and feelings result from distorted thinking caused by PTSD; they are often irrational and unhelpful but can seem very real to the sufferer. These thoughts typically involve feeling powerless or overwhelmed, such as believing that the situation is hopeless or that nothing will ever improve. They may also include intense emotions like anger, fear, guilt, or shame.
4. Hyperarousal Symptoms
Hyperarousal is one of the most common symptoms of PTSD and involves heightened levels of physical and psychological arousal. Examples of physical arousal include increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, muscle tension, difficulty sleeping or concentrating, headaches, fatigue, restlessness, and difficulty breathing. Psychological arousal includes feelings of being on edge or “jumpy” all the time; having difficulty relaxing; feeling angry or irritable; feeling anxious or nervous; having outbursts, and having trouble controlling emotions. It is important to note that everyone experiences these symptoms differently—what might be mild for one person could be debilitating for another.
PTSD Help
In summary, to be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an individual must have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event followed by symptoms lasting longer than one month which causes significant distress or impairment in social functioning. Furthermore, these symptoms must meet the criteria outlined in the DSM-5, which includes specific requirements for intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, negative thoughts and moods, and hyperarousal symptoms. If you believe you may be experiencing PTSD, it’s important to seek professional help from your doctor, who can further assess your experience using these guidelines for diagnosis.