title: [Historical evolution of the concept of posttraumatic stress disorder].
abstract: The authors elaborate on the historical evolution of the concept of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The authors quote the French scholars, mainly Charcot and Janet, as the first to connect traumatic events and symptoms of hysteria. The contributions of Freud are described with enphasis on his effort into integrating the intra-psychic and environmental dimensions. Kardiner is referred as the author who coined the concept of 'war neurosis', which was deemed as an important one during the Second World War and Vietnam War. In conclusion, the authors highlight that the concept of PTSD used in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) by the American Psychiatric Association assess, at the same time, how treatening was the traumatic event and the list of symptoms presented by the patients.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psiquiatria e Medicina Legal da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brasil. psiq@hcpa.ufrgs.br
authors.forename: Sidnei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schestatsky
authors.forename: Flávio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shansis
authors.forename: Lúcia Helena
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Ceitlin
authors.forename: Paulo B S
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hauck
mesh_terms: D003130:Combat Disorders; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005602:France; D005619:Freudian Theory; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000266:history*; D009626:Terminology as Topic