A 42-year-old combat veteran reports six months of intrusive flashbacks of battlefield trauma, nightmares, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, and avoidance of any reminders of his service. He feels emotionally numb and estranged from his family. Which criterion set below is required to diagnose PTSD under DSM-5-TR?

• A Exposure to traumatic event, intrusion symptoms, avoidance, negative cognitions/mood, hyperarousal, lasting more than one month ✓
• B Trauma exposure, depressed mood, and suicidal ideation for at least two weeks
• C Flashbacks and hypervigilance alone, regardless of duration
• D Trauma exposure, at least two panic attacks per week, and social withdrawal

Explanation

DSM-5-TR requires for PTSD: (A) direct or indirect exposure to a traumatic event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence; (B) at least one intrusion symptom; (C) persistent avoidance of trauma-related stimuli; (D) negative alterations in cognition and mood; (E) marked alterations in arousal and reactivity; with (F) duration greater than one month; and (G) significant impairment. Acute stress disorder has the same core features but lasts three days to one month post-trauma.

Reference: Kaplan & Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry, 11th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.