Psychiatric Disorders  Article Reprint

Original Article: http://www.psychiatric-disorders.com/articles/ptsd/causes-and-history/index.php

 

PTSD Causes and History

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) refers to a type of anxiety-related disorder in which a person becomes fearful, overwhelmed and generally anxious after having gone through an especially tragic situation. While some people tend to think of war veterans when they think about PTSD, this psychiatric disorder can, in fact, affect people of all ages, genders, ethnicities and social statuses.
 
This is primarily due to the fact that the word “trauma” is a highly subjective term. In simple terms, what may be “traumatic” to one person may not affect another at all. Similarly, a variety of experiences can be categorized as highly stressful or intensely tragic. From the death of a loved one to financial ruin, traumatic events are just as likely to happen to any one of us, regardless of our personal situations.

Other circumstances or experiences that can trigger PTSD include:

  • abuse
  • divorce
  • job loss
  • poor health
  • serious physical injury.

With such a variety of possible causes of PTSD, medical experts have a hard time predicting who will and won’t develop this condition.

In this section, we will highlight some of the main causes and risk factors associated with PTSD. Our articles will also offer an overview of the history of this condition, relating how it was first identified and subsequently became a credible disorder.

Stress, Anxiety and PTSD

Because PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder, it is naturally characterized by the symptoms of anxiety. However, the relationship between stress, anxiety and PTSD is far more complicated than simply the fact that stress and anxiety are PTSD symptoms. In fact, both stress and anxiety are also primary causes of PTSD.

This interrelation between stress, anxiety and PTSD is one of the reasons that some people have such a hard time learning to live with or get over their PTSD. For example, a stressful event will cause PTSD, which in turn leads to more stress, triggering more frequent outbursts of PTSD and further stress, etc.

The snowballing effect associated with stress/anxiety and PTSD means that anyone who is starting to experience the symptoms of PTSD should consult a psychiatrist for immediate consultation. The key to treating PTSD is learning how to minimize stress, anxiety and other PTSD causes and/or symptoms.

History of PTSD

Although the term Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has only recently come about, this condition had been around for years before modern medicine identified it. In fact, PTSD has officially been on the books for less than 30 years, as the American Psychiatric Association (APA) didn’t classify it until 1980.

However, while people have suffered extreme stress as the result of trauma for centuries, the advancements of the modern age have seemed to heighten the incidence of this disorder. As a result, some researchers are currently studying the degree to which bombings, terrorist attacks and other globally tragic events increase the prevalence of PTSD.

Here are some interesting statistics about the current incidence of PTSD:

  • Almost 4 percent of adults in the United States (people over 18 years old) experience PTSD. This works out to nearly 8 million people.
  • Although people of any age can develop PTSD, the average age at which people begin to experience PTSD symptoms is 23 years old.
  • Nearly 20 percent of Vietnam War veterans have suffered or currently do suffer from PTSD.
One of the keys to preventing and treating PTSD more effectively is to thoroughly understand the history of PTSD.