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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Synonyms

Combat disorder; Combat fatigue; Combat neurosis; Complete exhaustion; Operational exhaustion; Operational stress injury; Shell shock; Stress disorder

Short Description or Definition

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder characterized by specific symptoms which can develop after exposure to a potential traumatic event (PTE) or a number of traumatic events. PTEs in the general population may involve rape, motor vehicle accidents, assault, natural disasters, or terrorism. In the military, war zone or peacekeeping exposure – including imprisonment, torture, or witnessing atrocities or comrades being wounded or killed – might serve as a significant traumatic event. In PTSD, the individual will relive the traumatic event through intrusive thoughts and recollections during the day or disturbing dreams at night. When triggered by reminders, individuals often become emotionally upset and exhibit physical symptoms of anxiety. They will often avoid thinking and talking...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada

    J. Don Richardson

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Wanda L. Smith

  3. Parkwood Institute Operational Stress Injury Clinic – GTA Services, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Kate St. Cyr

  4. Operational Stress Injury Clinic, Parkwood Institute, St. Joseph’s Health Care London, London, Canada

    Michelle Marlborough

Authors
  1. J. Don Richardson
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  2. Wanda L. Smith
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  3. Kate St. Cyr
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  4. Michelle Marlborough
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Don Richardson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar

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Don Richardson, J., Smith, W.L., St. Cyr, K., Marlborough, M. (2018). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_1554-3

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