Post-traumatic stress disorder

A disorder arising after exposure to a threatening or horrific event or series of events, characterized by re-experiencing the trauma (flashbacks, nightmares), active avoidance of reminders, a sense of current threat, and often emotional numbing and social withdrawal. Symptoms persist for at least several weeks and cause significant functional impairment.

Symptoms

• Re-experiencing trauma (intrusive memories) (also: Re-experiencing trauma through intrusive memories, Re-experiencing trauma – intrusive memories, flashbacks, intrusive memories of traumatic event, traumatic intrusions, recurring trauma memories)
• Traumatic flashbacks (also: Flashbacks – re-experiencing trauma as if happening now, Flashbacks – trauma replayed as if it were the present, retrospective trauma episodes, flashbacks, re-experiencing trauma)
• Nightmares related to traumatic event (also: Nightmares related to traumatic event, trauma-related nightmares, nightmares about trauma, traumatic dreams, nocturnal nightmares)
• Avoidance of trauma reminders (thoughts, places, persons) (also: Avoidance of trauma reminders – thoughts, places, persons, avoidance of trauma reminders, avoidance of traumatic stimuli, skipping reminders, avoidance of memories)
• Hypervigilance (also: Hypervigilance and sense of current threat, Sense of current threat – hypervigilance, hypervigilance, hypervigilance, increased alertness)
• Exaggerated startle response (also: Exaggerated startle response (startle response), exaggerated startle response, excessive startle reflex, hyperreactivity, strong startle response)
• Persistent sense of threat despite trauma having ended (also: Persistent sense of threat despite trauma having ended, sense of constant threat, constant sense of threat, persistent sense of danger, chronic sense of threat)
• Emotional numbing and blunting of affect (also: emotional numbing, feeling of emotional emptiness, psychic numbing, blunted affect after trauma, difficulty feeling emotions)
• Social withdrawal (also: Isolation from others and loss of social bonds, withdrawal from relationships, loss of contact with family, feeling of alienation from people, social isolation after trauma)
• Loss of interests (anhedonia) (also: Anhedonia, Anhedonia and loss of interest in previous activities, loss of pleasure, lack of satisfaction from hobbies, anhedonia after trauma)
• Sleep problems (also: Sleep disorders (insomnia, restless sleep, frequent waking), insomnia after trauma, difficulty falling asleep, waking from nightmares, shallow sleep)
• Onset of symptoms weeks/months after stressful event (also: Post-trauma latency (symptoms appear weeks to months later), delayed onset of symptoms, symptoms after several months, delayed-onset PTSD, latency period)

ICD-11 diagnostic criteria

• doświadczenie wydarzenia traumatycznego
• ponowne przeżywanie traumy
• unikanie przypomnień o traumie
• utrzymujące się poczucie zagrożenia
• znaczne pogorszenie funkcjonowania

How to recognise

In the ICD-11 framework, the core symptoms taken into account when recognising Post-traumatic stress disorder are:

• natrętne wspomnienia traumatycznego wydarzenia
• unikanie przypomnień o traumie

Differential diagnosis

When diagnosing Post-traumatic stress disorder, the following ICD-11 disorders should be considered in the differential diagnosis:

• Złożony zespół stresu pourazowego (6B41)
• Zaburzenie adaptacyjne (6B43)

Synonyms and related terms

Re-experiencing trauma through intrusive memories, Re-experiencing trauma – intrusive memories, flashbacks, intrusive memories of traumatic event, traumatic intrusions, recurring trauma memories, intrusive trauma images, obsessive memories, compulsive memories, unwanted memories, memories keep returning, has trauma in mind, remembers trauma without control, images return, cannot stop thinking about it, trauma comes back to memory, intrusive trauma memories, traumatic flashbacks, reminiscences, Flashbacks – re-experiencing trauma as if happening now, Flashbacks – trauma replayed as if it were the present, retrospective trauma episodes, flashbacks, re-experiencing trauma, trauma retrospectives, flashback episodes, intense memories, reliving trauma, has flashbacks, feels like it is happening again, sees trauma again

Frequently asked questions

What are the symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder?

Symptoms associated with Post-traumatic stress disorder (ICD-11 6B40) include: Re-experiencing trauma (intrusive memories), Traumatic flashbacks, Nightmares related to traumatic event, Avoidance of trauma reminders (thoughts, places, persons), Hypervigilance, Exaggerated startle response, Persistent sense of threat despite trauma having ended, Emotional numbing and blunting of affect, Social withdrawal, Loss of interests (anhedonia), Sleep problems, Onset of symptoms weeks/months after stressful event.

How is Post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosed according to ICD-11?

According to ICD-11, the diagnostic criteria for Post-traumatic stress disorder (6B40) include: doświadczenie wydarzenia traumatycznego; ponowne przeżywanie traumy; unikanie przypomnień o traumie; utrzymujące się poczucie zagrożenia; znaczne pogorszenie funkcjonowania.

What disorders are in the differential diagnosis of Post-traumatic stress disorder?

The differential diagnosis of Post-traumatic stress disorder (6B40) includes: Złożony zespół stresu pourazowego (6B41), Zaburzenie adaptacyjne (6B43).

WHO ICD-11 source

View this entry in the official WHO ICD-11 browser: 6B40 – WHO ICD-11