Table 1.

Main symptoms of PTSD

Reexperiencing Invasive memories of the trauma Frequent nightmares Flashbacks Psychological and physiological reactivity to internal/external cues resembling the trauma Avoidance Avoiding thoughts, conversations, feelings, places, activities, and people related to the event Inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma Loss of interest in external world and detachment from others Difficulty feeling and expressing positive emotion Lack of desire to deal with the future Hyperarousal Anxiety and hypervigilance Problems with sleeping Difficulty in concentrating and studying Irritability with angry outbursts Constant feeling of alertness and exaggerated startle response

Data adapted from APA (1994).

Abbreviations: PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder.