Table 2.

Summary of Changes to PTSD Diagnostic Criteria from DSM-IV-TR to DSM-5

Criterion	DSM-IV-TR	DSM-5
Stressor	The person has been exposed to a traumatic event in which both of the following have been present: The person has experienced, witnessed, or been confronted with an event or events that involve actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of oneself or others. The person’s response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror.	Similar language to DSM-IV-TR in regard to event or stressor with specific language specifying repeated prolonged exposure to stressful situations (e.g. police officers or first responders) The response of intense fear, helplessness, or horror has been removed since it did not have utility in predicting PTSD
Symptom Clusters	3 Clusters: Intrusive recollections Avoidance Hyperarousal	4 Clusters: Re-experiencing Avoidance Negative cognitions and mood Arousal
Duration	Duration of symptoms is more than 1 month	Duration of symptoms is more than 1 month
Subtypes	Chronic- symptom duration of greater than 3 months Delayed onset-symptom onset greater than 6 months after stressor	Chronic and delayed subtypes removed Preschool subtype-children younger than 6 years Dissociative subtype-prominent dissociative symptoms

PTSD = Post-traumatic stress disorder; DSM-IV = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV-TR;DSM-5 = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5