What characterizes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

What characterizes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

• A. A fear of new experiences
• B. Re-experiencing trauma with avoidance of related stimuli
• C. Consistent feelings of happiness
• D. Excessive focus on planning and organization

Answer: (B)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized primarily by the re-experiencing of a traumatic event, which can manifest through intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares. This re-experiencing is often accompanied by avoidance behaviors, where individuals may go out of their way to steer clear of reminders of the trauma, such as certain places, people, or discussions that bring back distressing memories. This combination of re-experiencing symptoms and avoidance helps to define the condition and is crucial for diagnosing PTSD. Such avoidance behavior serves as a coping mechanism, but it can significantly impair daily functioning and emotional well-being. The other choices do not accurately represent the core features of PTSD. A fear of new experiences can be a symptom of various anxiety disorders, but it is not specific to PTSD. Consistent feelings of happiness are contrary to the emotional dysregulation often seen in PTSD, where individuals may experience intense negative emotions. An excessive focus on planning and organization might relate to obsessive-compulsive traits rather than the symptoms characteristic of PTSD.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized primarily by the re-experiencing of a traumatic event, which can manifest through intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares. This re-experiencing is often accompanied by avoidance behaviors, where individuals may go out of their way to steer clear of reminders of the trauma, such as certain places, people, or discussions that bring back distressing memories. This combination of re-experiencing symptoms and avoidance helps to define the condition and is crucial for diagnosing PTSD. Such avoidance behavior serves as a coping mechanism, but it can significantly impair daily functioning and emotional well-being.

The other choices do not accurately represent the core features of PTSD. A fear of new experiences can be a symptom of various anxiety disorders, but it is not specific to PTSD. Consistent feelings of happiness are contrary to the emotional dysregulation often seen in PTSD, where individuals may experience intense negative emotions. An excessive focus on planning and organization might relate to obsessive-compulsive traits rather than the symptoms characteristic of PTSD.