Posttraumatic stress disorder and community violence: An update for nurse practitioners.
OBJECTIVE
An update on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and community violence for nurse practitioners (NPs) and other healthcare providers is required.


METHODS
A review of current literature on PTSD related to community violence is presented as well as an overview of PTSD disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
Violence takes place in our communities and in our larger social world every day. In the face of increasing disasters and violent events, there is growing concern over the overall impact of violence on mental health. PTSD, a type of anxiety disorder, may develop as a result of exposure to these events.


CONCLUSIONS
NPs have an important role to play in recognizing and treating PTSD symptoms in persons following exposure to a severe psychological trauma.
New Hanover Health Care Network, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA.
Sarah J
SJ
Blizzard
Jeanne
J
Kemppainen
Julie
J
Taylor
D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D015995:Prevalence; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*