post-traumatic stress disorder

Psychiatric disorder caused by the experiencing of a trauma.

Diagnosis is based on the presence of a number of symptoms such as recurrent recollections of the trauma, emotional numbness, lack of motivation, and irrational outbursts. Symptoms are intense enough to prevent the sufferer from functioning normally. Treatment is by psychotherapy. Sufferers include soldiers, rape victims, emergency services staff, and children living in a violent environment.

US researchers 1995 estimated that 10-20% of adults who had suffered severe physical or sexual abuse as children showed symptoms of PSTD.