PTSD need not appear immediately after the harrowing experience. It can--and often is--delayed by days or even months. It lasts more than one month (usually much longer). Sufferers of PTSD report subjective distress (the manifestations of PTSD are ego-dystonic). Their functioning in various settings--job performance, grades at school, sociability--deteriorates markedly.
The DSM-IV-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) criteria for diagnosing PTSD are far too restrictive. PTSD seems to also develop in the wake of verbal and emotional abuse and in the aftermath of drawn out traumatic situations (such as a nasty divorce). Hopefully, the text will be adapted to reflect this sad reality.
We tackle recovery and healing from trauma and abuse in our next article.
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