What is PTSD?

What is the Criteria for PTSD? 


According to the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to have a diagnosis of PTSD, a person must be older than 6 years old and have been exposed to an actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence directly, as a witness, or by hearing about it. Some individuals have experienced repetitive traumatic events, such as is present in abuse, human trafficking, and the like.  

There are a few categories of symptoms present, after the event and lasting for at least 30 days, for individuals who have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and they include:

  1. Re-experiencing of the traumatic through memories, dreams, flashbacks, or significant psychological distress reactions to reminders of the traumatic event
  2. Avoidance of reminders of the traumatic event including internal reminders (e.g., memories, thoughts, etc.) or external reminders (e.g., particular places or people)
  3. Negative changes to your thinking or mood (e.g., strong negative beliefs, like the world is unsafe or you are damaged) 
  4. Hypervigilance or other changes in arousal or reactivity. 

If you have PTSD, your symptoms will be so severe that they negatively impact your work, relationships, or other important aspect of your life. Not all abuse, wartime experiences, or domestic violence produce a diagnosis of PTSD. In fact, World Mental Health Surveys indicated 70% of the populations in the countries studied had experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime and only 8% met the criteria for PTSD. Early intervention could did appear to lessen that number; however, with so many spontaneously recovering the cost of the intervention is a barrier.

Why do some individuals get PTSD and others don’t? 


At the end of the day we don’t really know for sure! What we do know is your risk of developing PTSD is increased by: 

  • Pre-existing issues with certain brain chemicals including cortisol, adrenaline (epinephrine), and norepinephrine, play a role in the development and persistence of PTSD symptoms
  • Personal or family history of mental illness
  • Severe and repeated traumatic events
  • Foster Care system involvement
  • Genetics - dysregulation of hormones like serotonin or dopamine
  • Injury from the traumatic event
  • Socioeconomic factors: racism, food insecurity, refugees seeking asylum

The most common causes of PTSD is combat exposure and sexual assault (45% of women assaulted met the criteria for PTSD). After the most common incidents resulting in PTSD were: 

  • Child physical abuse
  • Physical assault
  • Threatened with a weapon
  • An accident

The hallmark of a traumatic event is that the event overwhelms an individual’s ability to integrate his/her emotional experience and the individual experiences a perceived or real threat to their life, bodily integrity, or that of a caregiver or family. 


There are only two types of professionals who can diagnose a person with PTSD, a psychiatrist (or other physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner) or a psychologist. But, you don't have to be diagnosed with PTSD to seek help for the symptoms that trouble you. There are many clinicians practicing evidence-based approaches and helping people calm down their nervous systems and reclaim their lives!


For more information about evidence-based approaches, go to https://www.resolvetorise.com/trauma-and-treatment.

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