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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

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Overview

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.

It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation. Fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to help defend against danger or to avoid it. This "fight-or-flight" response is a typical reaction meant to protect a person from harm. Nearly everyone will experience a range of reactions after trauma, yet most people recover from initial symptoms naturally. Those who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with PTSD. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened, even when they are not in danger.

Signs and Symptoms

Risk Factors

Treatments and Therapies

Join a Study

Clinical trials are research studies that look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat diseases and conditions. The goal of clinical trials is to determine if a new test or treatment works and is safe. Although individuals may benefit from being part of a clinical trial, participants should be aware that the primary purpose of a clinical trial is to gain new scientific knowledge so that others may be better helped in the future.

Researchers at NIMH and around the country conduct many studies with patients and healthy volunteers. We have new and better treatment options today because of what clinical trials uncovered years ago. Be part of tomorrow's medical breakthroughs. Talk to your health care provider about clinical trials, their benefits and risks, and whether one is right for you.

To learn more or find a study, visit:

Learn More

Federal Resources

National Center for PTSD: Part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, this website has targeted information for anyone interested in PTSD (including veterans, family, and friends) and for professional researchers and health care providers. The site also offers videos and information about an online app called PTSD Coach.

Clinician's Guide to Medications for PTSD: This material was developed for researchers, providers, and helpers by the U.S. Department for Veterans Affairs.

Research and Statistics

Journal Articles: References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine).

PTSD Statistics: This webpage provides information on the statistics currently available on the prevalence of PTSD among adults and adolescents in the U.S.

Last Revised: May 2019
Unless otherwise specified, NIMH information and publications are in the public domain and available for use free of charge. Citation of the NIMH is appreciated. Please see our Citing NIMH Information and Publications page for more information.

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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation. Fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to help defend against danger or to avoid it.

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Treatment of PTSD - PTSD: National Center for PTSD

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Read an overview about the treatments shown to be most effective for PTSD. These include talk therapy and medication options.

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70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives. This equates to approximately 223.4 million people

Up to 20% of these people go on to develop PTSD. As of today, that equates to approximately 44.7 million people who were or are struggling with PTSD.

An estimated 8% of Americans − 24.4 million people − have PTSD at any given time. That is equal to the total population of Texas.

An estimated one out of every nine women develops PTSD, making them about twice as likely as men.

The annual cost to society of anxiety disorders is estimated to be significantly over $42.3 billion, often due to misdiagnosis and under treatment. This includes psychiatric and non-psychiatric medical treatment costs, indirect workplace costs, mortality costs, and prescription drug costs.

People with PTSD have among the highest rates of healthcare service use. People with PTSD present with a range of symptoms, the cause of which may be overlooked or misdiagnosed as having resulted from past trauma.

Much of the general public and many mental health professionals used to doubt whether PTSD was a true disorder.

In 1980, PTSD was recognized as a disorder with specific symptoms that could be reliably diagnosed and was addedto the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

PTSD is recognized as a psychobiological mental disorder than can affect survivors not only of combat experience, but also terrorist attacks, natural disasters, serious accidents, assault or abuse, or even sudden and major emotional losses.

PTSD is associated with changes in brain function and structure and these changes provide clues to the origins, treatment, and prevention of PTSD. Some cases may be delayed, with only subtle symptoms showing up initially and more severe symptoms emerging months after the traumatic event.

PTSD affects about 7.7 million American adults in a given year, though the disorder can develop at any age including childhood. Symptoms include strong and unwanted memories of the event, bad dreams, emotional numbness, intense guilt or worry, angry outbursts, feeling "on edge," and avoiding thoughts and situations that arereminders of the trauma.

PTSD was once considered a psychological condition of combat veterans who were "shocked" by and unable to face their experiences on the battlefield.

Soldiers with symptoms of PTSD often faced rejection by their military peers and were feared by society in general.

Those with PTSD symptoms were often labeled as "weak" and removed from combat zones, or sometimes discharged from military service.

In addition to providing healthcare to about 5 million veterans each year, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) also funds research that focuses on the specific health conditions that veterans may experience. One condition that>is examined in VA-funded research is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); an anxiety disorder that can occur after a person is exposed to a life-threatening event. Veterans diagnosed with PTSD may experience problems sleeping maintaining relationships, and returning to their previous civilian lives.

Almost 50% of all outpatient mental health patients have PTSD.

For comparison, according to a 2009 report prepared by ORD staff for VA's National Research Advisory Council or fiscal year 2009, funding for intramural traumatic brain injury research was about $14.6 million, 2.9 % of the medical and prosthetic research appropriation. Funding for spinal cord injury research was $27.2 million, 5.3 % of the medical and prosthetic research appropriation. Funding for intramural cardiovascular disease and stroke research>was $53.1 million, 10.4 % of the medical and prosthetic research appropriation.

According to VA, experts estimate that up to 20 % of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans, up to 10 % of Gulf War veterans, and up to 30 % of Vietnam War veterans have experienced PTSDConsequently, demand for PTSD treatment continues to grow.

In the past year alone the number of diagnosed cases in the military jumped 50% and that's only the reported and diagnosed cases.

17% of combat troops are women; 71% of female military personnel develop PTSD due to sexual assault within the ranks.

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70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives. This equates to approximately 223.4 million people Up to 20% of these people go on to develop PTSD. As of today, that equates to approximately 44.7 million people who were or are struggling with PTSD.

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https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsdhttps://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd

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https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtmlhttps://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml

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https://maketheconnection.net/conditions/ptsdhttps://maketheconnection.net/conditions/ptsd

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https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/reintegration/overview-mental-health-effects.asphttps://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/reintegration/overview-mental-health-effects.asp

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https://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/ptsd-in-military-veterans.htmhttps://www.helpguide.org/articles/ptsd-trauma/ptsd-in-military-veterans.htm