Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
was first included as a diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders in 1980, and since then it has
become recognised as a major cause of distress and suffering
following traumatic events.
Common symptoms of PTSD include recurring
recollections and dreams related to the traumatic event, avoidance
and numbing, and hypervigilance. Recent reviews have consistently
recommended trauma-focused psychological therapies as a first-line
treatment for PTSD, although pharmacological treatments have also
been found to be effective in some cases.
This module will introduce the
different biological, psychological and social models of
PTSD. It will also provide up-to-date information on
the epidemiology of PTSD and explain how the disorder can
be effectively prevented and treated.