Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe psychiatric disorder appearing following a potentially traumatic event, classically defined as an unexpected confrontation with the reality of death (most often sudden and unforeseen events that confront a threat to life or physical integrity, but also other more chronic situations, such as sexual assault and abuse), for example:
- serious accidents, attacks;
- physical and sexual violence;
- abuse, including domestic or domestic violence;
- exposure to work-related trauma;
- trauma related to serious health problems or childbirth experiences (for example, admission to intensive care or neonatal death);
- war, conflict, torture;
- migratory route;
- grief.
After the occurrence of the event, an acute state of stress may arise, defined as a set of manifestations – emotional, somatic, cognitive, behavioral, such as intrusive memories, nightmares, signs of anxiety, confusional state, negative emotions, etc. . – present until D30; PTSD is defined by the presence of these manifestations for more than 1 month (the presence or absence of acute stress symptoms is not predictive of progression to PTSD).
PTSD can become chronic (> 3 months), but also appear later (6 months after the event). A so-called complex form can occur when a traumatic event lasts a long time or is repeated without the person being able to flee or protect themselves (sexual violence, abuse, wars, torture, etc.).
This disorder has repercussions on social, family and occupational functioning, often causing disabling difficulties (stress, drop in self-esteem, development of a mentality of resignation, etc.).