Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Also called: PTSD
Have you lived through a scary or dangerous event? Do you have some of the following problems?
* Feeling like the event is happening again
* Trouble sleeping or nightmares
* Not feeling close to people
* Becoming easily angered
* Feeling guilty because others died when you lived
If so, you might have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Events that might cause PTSD include rape, physical abuse, an airplane or car crash, war or others. For most people, PTSD starts about three months after the event. However, sometimes signs of PTSD show up years later. PTSD can happen to anyone, even children.
Medicines can help you feel less afraid and tense. It might take a few weeks for them to work. Talking to a specially trained doctor or counselor also helps many people with PTSD. This is called talk therapy.
National Institute of Mental Health
Start Here
* Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish
* Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, A Real IllnessEasy-to-ReadFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Mental Health)
Also available in Spanish
* What Can I Do If I Think I Have PTSD?(National Center for PTSD)
Basics Learn More Multimedia & Cool Tools
* Overviews
* Latest News
* Treatment
* Rehabilitation/Recovery
* Coping
* Specific Conditions
* Related Issues
* Videos
Research Reference Shelf For You
* Clinical Trials
* Research
* Journal Articles
* Dictionaries/Glossaries
* Directories
* Organizations
* Children
* Teenagers
* Seniors
* Overviews
o Common Reactions After Trauma(National Center for PTSD, Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
o JAMA Patient Page: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder(American Medical Association)
Also available in Spanish
o What Is Psychological Trauma?(Sidran Institute)
* Latest News
o Post Traumatic Stress Hits Kids of Cancer Patients(09/26/2007, Reuters Health)
o 6 Years Later, 9/11 Health Questions Linger(09/11/2007, HealthDay)
o Parents' PTSD May Boost Stress in Offspring(09/05/2007, HealthDay)
o More News on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
* Treatment
o Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress and Dissociative Conditions: What to Look for and How to Choose a Therapist(Sidran Institute)
o Treatment of PTSD(National Center for PTSD, Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
* Rehabilitation/Recovery
o VA Programs for Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)(Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
* Coping
o Coping with PTSD and Recommended Lifestyle Changes for PTSD Patients(National Center for PTSD, Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
o Having Trouble Coping? There Is Hope(Center for Mental Health Services) - Links to PDF
o In the Wake of Trauma: Tips for College Students(Center for Mental Health Services) - Links to PDF
o Managing Stress and Recovering from Trauma: Facts and Resources for Veterans and Families(National Center for PTSD, Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
o Managing Traumatic Stress: Tips for Recovering from Disasters and Other Traumatic Events(American Psychological Association)
o Tips for Survivors of a Traumatic Event: Managing Your Stress(Center for Mental Health Services) - Links to PDF
* Specific Conditions
o Complex PTSD(National Center for PTSD, Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
o Post-Traumatic Stress After a Traffic Accident(American Academy of Family Physicians)
* Related Issues
o Answers in the Aftermath(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
o Disaster Rescue and Response Workers(National Center for PTSD, Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
o Discussing Trauma and PTSD with Your Doctor(National Center for PTSD, Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
o Effects of Traumatic Stress in a Disaster Situation(National Center for PTSD, Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
o PTSD and Physical Health(National Center for PTSD, Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
o PTSD and Suicide(National Center for PTSD, Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
o PTSD and the Family(National Center for PTSD, Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
o Returning from the War Zone: A Guide for Families of Military Personnel(National Center for PTSD, Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
o Returning from the War Zone: A Guide for Military Personnel(National Center for PTSD, Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - Links to PDF
o Sleep and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)(National Center for PTSD, Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
o Trauma and Relationships(International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies)
o Trauma, Loss and Traumatic Grief(International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies)
o Traumatic Stress and Substance Use Problems(International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies)
* Videos
o Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)Easy-to-Read(Healthy Roads Media) - Requires Flash Player
Also available in Spanish
* Clinical Trials
o ClinicalTrials.gov: Stress Disorders, Post-TraumaticFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institutes of Health)
* Research
o Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ResearchFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Mental Health)
o Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)From the National Institutes of Health(National Institutes of Health) - Links to PDF
* Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
o Article: Parental posttraumatic stress disorder as a vulnerability factor for low...
o Article: New treatment approaches: integrating new media in the treatment of...
o Article: Posttraumatic stress disorder: etiology, epidemiology, and treatment outcome.
o Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder -- see more articles
* Dictionaries/Glossaries
o Dissociative Disorders Glossary(Sidran Institute)
* Directories
o Mental Health Services Locator(Center for Mental Health Services)
* Organizations
o Center for Mental Health Services
o National Center for PTSD
o National Child Traumatic Stress Network
o National Institute of Mental HealthFrom the National Institutes of Health
* Children
o Caring for Kids After Trauma, Disaster and Death(NYU Child Study Center) - Large PDF file
o For Parents: Childhood Traumatic Grief Educational Materials(National Child Traumatic Stress Network) - Large PDF file
o Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Parents Can DoFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Mental Health)
o Understanding Child Traumatic Stress(National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
* Teenagers
o Posttraumatic Stress Disorder(Nemours Foundation)
* Seniors
o PTSD and Older Veterans(National Center for PTSD, Dept. of Veterans Affairs)