What is post-traumatic stress disorder?

It is not surprising that in South Africa where crime and violent events such as sexual assault, hijacking and domestic violence are common, there is also a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD).

Dr Eileen Thomas, a psychiatrist affiliated to Akeso Psychiatric Clinic in Milnerton, Cape Town, as well as the Stellenbosch University’s Department of Psychiatry and Tygerberg Hospital said that PTSD is not only a common disorder, but is disabling and associated with a large number of adverse and negative effects.

According to Thomas, epidemiological research has documented lifetime prevalence estimates of four to six percent in both civilian and combat cohorts.

She explained that PTSD is a unique psychiatric disorder in that it requires a preceding significant traumatic event as a prerequisite for the disorder to manifest. “According to diagnostic nomenclature, the traumatic event must involve exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violence in one or more ways, including directly witnessing the event or witnessing it happen to someone else or hearing about it and more. Thus, events such as retrenchment, divorce or death of a loved one are not necessarily traumatic events that would qualify to precipitate the disorder,” said Thomas.

General information about PTSD:

• Not everyone that is exposed to a traumatic event develops PTSD. This is an area of active research and factors such as gender, previous traumas, genetics and history of childhood abuse are all factors that increase the risk for development of subsequent PTSD.

• Common symptoms of PTSD include re-experiencing flashbacks, nightmares, avoiding conversations and people, activities that serve as reminders of the experience, changes in mood and cognition such as feelings of shame, guilt, being jumpy and experiencing concentration difficulties.

• A PTSD diagnosis can usefully bring together many seemingly unrelated symptoms. For example, an adult might present with complaints related to anxiety, depression, insomnia, social isolation and substance abuse.

• Untreated PTSD is associated with marked functional impairment and an increased risk of other psychiatric disorders including mood, anxiety disorders, suicidal tendency and higher rates of medical disorders.

• Treatment should be sought from either a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist, preferably one with experience in treating trauma-related disorders.