Should the current DSM-IV-TR definition for PTSD be expanded to include serial and multiple microtraumas as aetiologies?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that develops from events that are interpreted as traumatic. It may be secondary to witnessing trauma to someone close, an event that threatens one's life or childhood sexual trauma. Resultant feelings can be fear, helplessness or horror. Thresholds at which traumatic events cause PTSD, the individual's coping ability and support systems help determine occurrence and severity of symptoms. According to DSM-IV-TR (DSM) definition, PTSD can occur after childhood sexual abuse or a single trauma threatening life or safety. However, it is becoming clearer that symptoms of PTSD can arise from multiple less severe traumas ('microtraumas'), which can be a consequence of a history of longstanding emotional neglect, humiliation or inaccurate attribution of blame. The DSM should consider modifying the criteria to include multiple microtraumas that can lead to PTSD symptoms and may even be more destructive to psychological health.
College of Nursing, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ 07079, USA. richard.seides@shu.edu
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D000328:Adult; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000523:psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology