PTS is a common, normal, and often adaptive response to experiencing a traumatic or stressful event. Both PTS and PTSD are associated with feeling fearful and/or nervous, avoiding the activity or place associated with the traumatic event, and nightmares. However, there are significant differences in symptom intensity, duration, and treatment. PTSD is a clinically diagnosed psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or the witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault in adulthood or childhood. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, uncontrollable intrusive thoughts, and emotional numbing after the event.2,4,6 Military service members and veterans from recent conflicts and combat are a population of special concern. Since September 11, 2001, the U.S. has deployed more than 2.7 million men and women to support combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.7 According to the Department of Defense’s 2015 evaluation of U.S. military casualty statistics5: Further, military personnel with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) have an increased risk for developing PTSD.9,10 Among U.S. Army infantry soldiers returning from Iraq, 43.9% of those who reported a TBI with loss of consciousness also reported symptoms of PTSD. PTS may be exacerbated by more frequent or severe exposures to trauma, and risk increases with history of trauma and stressors, personal or family history of psychopathology, and low social support.11 Among people 13 years of age and older, 5.7% will develop PTSD during their lifetime.4 PTS is more prevalent in young adults, women, and African Americans, and high rates are also seen in Hispanics and Caucasians. 3.7% of Americans ages 13 years of age and older have a diagnosis of PTSD every year 5.7% of Americans 13 years of age and older develop PTSD during their lifetime Over 138,000 new PTSD diagnoses among deployed military personnel from 2000-2015 DSM-5 Diagnosis: Because our understanding of PTS constantly evolves, the DSM-5 was updated to assess four categories/clusters of PTSD symptoms13: Read more about the difference between PTS & PTSD Comorbidities: PTSD can greatly impact patients’ health in terms of increased risk for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity, among other conditions – not to mention a number of psychological disorders.1,15 In particular, when TBI and PTSD co-occur, symptoms may be difficult to delineate. Diagnosing and then treating PTSD can be nuanced due to the complexity and timing of PTS presentation, with patients having multiple symptoms arising from the symptom clusters.16 Post-Traumatic Stress on Wikipedia U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; National Center for PTSD What Is Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS/D)?
PTS in Veterans: High Prevalence Among Military Personnel5
New Diagnoses of PTSD among deployed troops, from 2000 to June 2015
Approximately 8 Million Adults in the US Have a Diagnosis of PTSD2
average post-deployment PTSD prevalence
in U.S. infantry personnelThe PTS Spectrum Has Been Defined, Providing a Useful Framework for Thinking About Diagnosis and Treatment12
Diagnostic Criteria
PTSD Is Highly Comorbid with Depression, Anxiety Disorders, and Suicidality14
There Are High Unmet Needs – But Also Opportunities for Improvement – in Both Diagnosing and Treating PTSD
Further Reading – Suggested PTS Resources
References
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