Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Military and Veteran Populations: Initial Assessment Committee. Committee on the Assessment of Ongoing Effects in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Institute of Medicine.

摘要

The hallmarks of the recent conflicts in Iraq (20032011) and Afghanistan (2001-present) are blast injuries and the psychiatric consequences of combat, particularly posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the subject of this report. According to the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR), PTSD symptoms must be manifested in three clusters: 1. Persistent re-experiencing, such as recurrent thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks; 2. Persistent avoidance of trauma-associated stimuli (for example, avoiding related thoughts, feelings, conversations, or places) and emotional numbing that was not present before the trauma; and 3. Persistent hyperarousal that may be manifested as hypervigilance, an exaggerated startle response, or difficulty in concentrating. Those symptoms must persist for at least a month and cause clinically significant distress or functional impairment. PTSD is unique among psychiatric disorders in that it is linked to a specific trigger--a traumatic event--such as combat, natural and accidental disasters, and victimization and abuse.