What are the PTSD criteria?
Post -traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition in which a very disturbing event negatively affects the life of the individual through a number of long -term symptoms. The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM) of the American Psychiatric Association determines several PTSD criteria. In order to diagnose this condition, the individual must experience a traumatic event and must have recurring memories of this event. It must also prove behavior known as avoidance and anesthesia and must show signs of agitation. The final PTSD criteria include significant disruption of the life of the affected individual and the minimum duration of symptoms for at least 30 days.
As DSM determines, the initial criterion for PTSD is that the individual must experience a traumatic event. This may include anything from participation in the war to sexual attack to hit by car. The individual may have participated in the traumatian C, or it could have been a direct witness.
further to be diagnosed with PTSD must haveIndividual disturbing and ongoing memories of this traumatic event. These memories can take different forms. For example, it may have nightmares about the event or have hallucinations. Alternatively, he may find himself thinking about the event over and over again, or can experience physical or psychological anxiety when he sees or hears a reminder.
Other PTSD criteria include atypical forms of behavior known as anesthesia and avoiding. The term of anesthesia concerns the unwillingness or inability by the affected individual to demonstrate emotions towards others or interested in the people and activities he once took care of. Avoiding means that the individual is trying to stick to activities, conversations, placement, etc. It can lead him to think about a traumatic event.
Another criterion for PTSD is continuing agitation. As with memories related to disorders, this agitation can take a number of forms.For example, the affected individual can be difficult to sleep or concentrate. It can be more susceptible than normal to anger or fear and can find that they always feel on the edge.
The remaining remaining PTSD criteria relate to how strictly traumatic events affect the life of the individual and how long the symptoms of the individual persist. In order to be recognized as PTSD, the state must generally have an extremely disturbing effect on his life, which will cause alcohol dependent or unable to work. In addition, the symptoms must persist for at least 30 days to diagnose PTSD. Since there is no physical test to verify the existence of PTSD, doctors can generally diagnose only after talking to the patient in depth to see if they meet DSM Criteria on the condition.