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Woman crossing street with large manipulator looming above tethering her to PTSD symptoms

Explore how PTSD can leave patients tied to their symptoms1,2

PTSD starts with trauma. It is characterized by 4 symptom clusters in the APA DSM-5: intrusion (re-experiencing), persistent avoidance, negative changes in cognitions and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity. Individual symptoms can vary in presentation and severity, making them a constant challenge. Please see the DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for the full criteria.

APA=American Psychiatric Association; DSM-5=Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.

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Screen for PTSD. Target patient care.

PTSD is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed.3-7 This 5-question screening tool is designed to help identify probable PTSD in a primary care setting.

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Understanding the impact
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Beyond the trauma
Navigating the symptoms and course of PTSD
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  • 1.

    American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Fifth Edition. DSM-5™. American Psychiatric Publishing; 2013.

  • 2.

    Lancaster CL, et al. Posttraumatic stress disorder: overview of evidence-based assessment and treatment. J Clin Med. 2016;5:E105.

  • 3.

    Benfer N, et al. Self-stigma and PTSD: conceptualization and implications for research and treatment [published online ahead of print, March 20, 2023]. Psychiatr Serv. 2023;appi.ps.20220397.

  • 4.

    Meltzer EC, et al. Discrepancy in diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): treatment for the wrong reason. J Behav Health Serv Res. 2012;39:190-201.

  • 5.

    Greene T, et al. Prevalence, detection and correlates of PTSD in the primary care setting: a systematic review. J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2016;23:160-180.

  • 6.

    Liebschutz J, et al. PTSD in urban primary care: high prevalence and low physician recognition. J Gen Intern Med. 2007;22:719-726.

  • 7.

    Zammit S, et al. Undetected post-traumatic stress disorder in secondary-care mental health services: systematic review. Br J Psychiatry. 2018;212:11-18.