Chapter 13 - Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is increasingly identified as a key disorder affecting public health agendas because most people are exposed to a traumatic event at some time in their lives, and it is one of the major causes of burden of disease. In this chapter, the recently revised definitions of PTSD are reviewed, discussion of prevailing models are addressed, the course and mechanisms underpinning PTSD is explained, and preferred therapy options are described. One of the themes of this chapter is that PTSD is a contentious disorder insofar as it has attracted considerable debate in recent years, and this controversy has increased with recent changes to the diagnostic criteria.