Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Behavioral Definitions

• Exposure to actual or threatened death or serious injury that resulted in an intense emotional response of fear, helplessness, or horror
• Intrusive, distressing thoughts or images that recall the traumatic event
• Disturbing dreams associated with the traumatic event
• A sense that the event is reoccurring, as in illusions or flashbacks
• Intense distress when exposed to reminders of the traumatic event
• Physiological reactivity when exposed to internal or external cues that symbolize the traumatic event
• Avoidance of thoughts, feelings, or conversations about the traumatic event
• Avoidance of activity, places, or people associated with the traumatic event
• Inability to recall some important aspect of the traumatic event
• Lack of interest and participation in significant activities
• A sense of detachment from others
• Inability to experience the full range of emotions, including love
• A pessimistic, fatalistic attitude regarding the future
• Sleep disturbance
• Irritability
• Lack of concentration
• Hypervigilance
• Exaggerated startle response
• Sad or guilty affect and others signs of depression
• Alcohol and/or drug abuse
• Suicidal thoughts
• A pattern of interpersonal conflict, especially in intimate relationships
• Verbally and/or physically violent threats of behavior
• Inability to maintain employment due to supervisor/coworker conflict of anxiety symptoms
• Symptoms have been present for more than one month

Print this page | Return to HomePage >