Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Therapy

The DSM-V outlines the symptoms and criteria needed to make a diagnosis of PTSD. Please note that only a mental health professional is qualified to diagnose this condition. 

Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence in one (or more) of the following ways:

• Directly experiencing the traumatic event(s).
• Witnessing, in person, the event(s) as it occurred to others.
• Learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or close friend. In cases of actual or threatened death of a family member or friend, the event(s) must have been violent or accidental.
• Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event(s). Can’t be through electronic media.
  
  

Presence of one (or more) of the following intrusion symptoms associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning after the traumatic event(s) occurred:

• Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic event(s). 
• Recurrent distressing dreams in which the content and/or affect of the dream are related to the traumatic event(s). 
• Dissociative reactions (e.g., flashbacks) in which the individual feels or acts as if the traumatic event(s) were recurring. 
• Intense or prolonged psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s).
• Marked physiological reactions to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s).
  
  

Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning after the traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidenced by one or both of the following:

• Avoidance of or efforts to avoid distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event(s).
• Avoidance of or efforts to avoid external reminders (people, places, conversations, activities, objects, situations)
  
  

Negative alterations in cognitions and mood associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning or worsening after the traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidenced by two (or more) of the following:

• Inability to remember an important aspect of the traumatic event(s) (typically due to dissociative amnesia, and not to other factors such as head injury, alcohol, or drugs).
• Persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs or expectations about oneself, others, or the world
• Persistent, distorted cognitions about the cause or consequences of the traumatic event(s) that lead the individual to blame himself/herself or others.
• Persistent negative emotional state (e.g., fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame).
• Markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities.
• Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others.
• Persistent inability to experience positive emotions (e.g., inability to experience happiness, satisfaction, or loving feelings).