Who is at risk?
The traumatic event must engender intense feelings of fear, horror, or helplessness. Such events might be expected to occur to those who have experienced war, assault, rape, accidents, natural disasters and various other traumatic events.
Anyone with first hand sensory contact with the devastation - the sounds, smells, sights, physical sensations, and even tastes associated with the recent terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington DC- would be vulnerable to the development of PTSD.
Not everyone who experiences trauma gets PTSD
Curiously, though, the disorder does not develop simply because an individual was exposed to a traumatic event. The factors that determine if the disorder does or does not develop are not completely understood. However, it is known that PTSD is more likely to develop given the pre-existence of certain risk factors. We will review these factors later in this article.
PTSD Symptoms
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by the development of specific symptoms that must exist beyond 30 days. The symptoms can include:
