Table 1.

Clinical Presentation of PTSD. ¹¹

Symptom	Examples
Intrusion	• Recurrent, intrusive distressing memories of the trauma • Recurrent, disturbing dreams of the event • Feeling that the traumatic event is recurring (i.e., dissociative flashbacks) • Physiologic reaction to or psychological distress from reminders of the trauma
Avoidance	• Avoidance of conversations, thoughts, or feelings about the trauma • Avoidance of people, places, or activities that are reminders of the event
Persistent negative alteration in thinking and mood	• Inability to recall an important aspect of the trauma • Anhedonia • Estrangement from others • Restricted affect • Negative beliefs about oneself • Distorted beliefs causing one to blame others or themselves for the trauma • Negative mood state
Hyper-arousal	• Decreased concentration • Easily startled • Self-destructive behavior • Hypervigilance • Insomnia • Irritability or anger outbursts