PTSD DSM Criteria

Question 1

Criteria A

Answer 1

Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence in one (or
more) of the following ways:

1. Directly experiencing the traumatic event(s)
2. Witnessing, in person, the event(s) as it occurred to others.
3. Learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or close
   friend. In cases of actual or threatened death of a family member or friend, the
   event(s) must have been violent or accidental.
4. Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic
   event(s) (e.g., first responders collecting human remains; police officers repeatedly
   exposed to details of child abuse)

Question 2

Criteria B (intrusions)

Answer 2

Presence of one (or more) of the following intrusion symptoms associated with the
traumatic event(s), beginning after the traumatic event(s) occurred:

1. Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic event(s).
2. Recurrent distressing dreams in which the content and/or affect of the dream are
   related to the traumatic event
3. Dissociative reactions (e.g., flashbacks) in which the individual feels or acts as if
   the traumatic event(s) were recurring. (Such reactions may occur on a continuum,
   with the most extreme expression being a complete loss of awareness of present
   surroundings.)
4. Intense or prolonged psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues
   that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s).
5. Marked physiological reactions to internal or external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s)

Question 3

Criteria C (avoidance)

Answer 3

Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning after
the traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidenced by one or both of the following:

1. Avoidance of or efforts to avoid distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about
   or closely associated with the traumatic event( s).
2. Avoidance of or efforts to avoid external reminders (people, places, conversations,
   activities, objects, situations) that arouse distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event

Question 4

Criteria D (negative emotions)

Answer 4

Negative alterations in cognitions and mood associated with the traumatic event(s),
beginning or worsening after the traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidenced by two (or
more) of the following:

1. Inability to remember an important aspect of the traumatic event(s) (typically due to dis-
   sociative amnesia and not to other factors such as head injury, alcohol, or drugs).
2. Persistent and exaggerated négative beliefs or expectations about oneself, others,
   or the world
3. Persistent, distorted cognitions about the cause or consequences of the traumatic
   event(s) that lead the individual to blame himself/herself or others.
4. Persistent negative emotional state (e.g., fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame).
5. Markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities.
6. Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others.
7. Persistent inability to experience positive emotions (e.g., inability to experience
   happiness, satisfaction, or loving feelings)

Question 5

Criteria E (arousal)

Answer 5

Marked alterations in arousal and reactivity associated with the traumatic event(s), be-
ginning or worsening after the traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidenced by two (or
more) of the following:

1. Irritable behavior and angry outbursts (with little or no provocation) typically ex-
   pressed as verbal or physical aggression toward people or objects.
2. Reckless or self-destructive behavior.
3. Hypervigilance.
4. Exaggerated startle response.
5. Problems with concentration.
6. Sleep disturbance

Question 6

Criteria F-H

Answer 6

F. Duration of the disturbance (Criteria B, C, D, and E) is more than 1 month.

G. The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupa-
tional, or other important areas of functioning.

H. The disturbance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g.,
medication, alcohol) or another medical condition.

Question 7

Specifiers

Answer 7

1. With dissociative symptoms: ex-periences persistent or recurrent symptoms of either of the following;

• Depersonalization: Persistent or recurrent experiences of feeling detached from,
  and as if one were an outside observer of, one’s mental processes or body
• Derealization: Persistent or recurrent experiences of unreality of surroundings
  (e.g., the world around the individual is experienced as unreal, dreamlike, distant,
  or distorted).
• not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition

2. With delayed expression: If the full diagnostic criteria are not met until at least 6 months
   after the event (although the onset and expression of some symptoms may be immediate)