BMJ  2007;334:789-793 (14 April), doi:10.1136/bmj.39162.538553.80

Clinical Review

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Cardiff University, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XW

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Vivid descriptions of reactions to traumatic events span many centuries, although their nature has changed over time.¹ Post-traumatic stress disorder was first recognised as a diagnosable psychiatric disorder in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III)^w1 and ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition).² Its very existence continues to attract debate, with several authors arguing that culturally determined, understandable emotions to traumatic events are being pathologised.^w2 However, even its most ardent critics are more concerned by overdiagnosis than by whether post-traumatic stress disorder should be used as a label for the severe mental health problems some people experience after traumatic events.³ This article provides an overview of our current understanding of the disorder, who it affects, and the best approaches to its prevention and management.

I consulted recent systematic searches used to prepare Cochrane reviews and BMJ Clinical Evidence on prevention and treatment . . . [Full text of this article]

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    StumbleUpon    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

Detained asylum seekers may be being re-traumatised

Frank W Arnold
BMJ 2007 334: 916-917. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Caveat emptor

Fiona Godlee
BMJ 2007 334: 0. [Extract] [Full Text]

The scars that won't heal

Robert Hunter
BMJ 2007 334: 801. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Psychological and behavioural reactions to the bombings in London on 7 July 2005: cross sectional survey of a representative sample of Londoners

G James Rubin, Chris R Brewin, Neil Greenberg, John Simpson, and Simon Wessely
BMJ 2005 331: 606. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

The invention of post-traumatic stress disorder and the social usefulness of a psychiatric category

Derek Summerfield
BMJ 2001 322: 95-98. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Arnold, F. W (2007). Detained asylum seekers may be being re-traumatised. BMJ 334: 916-917 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

PTSD and retraumatisation in asylum seekers

Frank W Arnold, et al.
bmj.com, 15 Apr 2007 [Full text]

Preventing the disorder

Woody Caan
bmj.com, 16 Apr 2007 [Full text]

PTSD Management and Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Mehraj Uddin Shah, et al.
bmj.com, 20 Apr 2007 [Full text]

Online poll

Find out more on doc2doc >>