What term describes a delayed stress reaction following a traumatic event?

What term describes a delayed stress reaction following a traumatic event?

• A. Acute stress disorder
• B. General anxiety disorder
• C. Post-traumatic stress disorder
• D. Adjustment disorder

Answer: (C)

Post-traumatic stress disorder is the pattern that fits a delayed stress reaction after a traumatic event. PTSD can begin after trauma and, in some cases, symptoms don’t appear right away but emerge months later and persist. The hallmark is a cluster of problems: intrusive memories or flashbacks, avoidance of reminders, negative changes in thoughts and mood, and heightened arousal (like sleep problems or irritability). When these symptoms last more than a month and cause clear distress or impairment, they point to PTSD, including delayed-onset PTSD. Acute stress disorder, in contrast, shows up within days to about a month after the event, not after a delay. Generalized anxiety disorder involves pervasive worry across many situations and isn’t specifically tied to a past traumatic event or the classic PTSD symptom pattern. Adjustment disorder involves emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to stress but doesn’t include the distinct PTSD symptom clusters.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is the pattern that fits a delayed stress reaction after a traumatic event. PTSD can begin after trauma and, in some cases, symptoms don’t appear right away but emerge months later and persist. The hallmark is a cluster of problems: intrusive memories or flashbacks, avoidance of reminders, negative changes in thoughts and mood, and heightened arousal (like sleep problems or irritability). When these symptoms last more than a month and cause clear distress or impairment, they point to PTSD, including delayed-onset PTSD.

Acute stress disorder, in contrast, shows up within days to about a month after the event, not after a delay. Generalized anxiety disorder involves pervasive worry across many situations and isn’t specifically tied to a past traumatic event or the classic PTSD symptom pattern. Adjustment disorder involves emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to stress but doesn’t include the distinct PTSD symptom clusters.