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Psychology vocabulary · Mental Health Conditions

PTSD

Meaning in psychology, with examples

/ˌpiː tiː es ˈdiː/abbreviationCore term

In psychology, PTSD means: Short for post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition that can follow a traumatic event, with intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in mood and thinking, and constant alertness.

In Turkish: travma sonrası stres bozukluğu, TSSB

How it is used

Clinicians and researchers almost always use the abbreviation. In DSM-5 it belongs to the trauma- and stressor-related disorders, and symptoms must last more than a month. Well-studied treatments include trauma-focused CBT and EMDR.

Example sentences

  1. Flashbacks and nightmares are among the most typical symptoms of PTSD.

  2. He was diagnosed with PTSD after a serious car accident.

Common collocations

  • develop PTSD
  • PTSD symptoms
  • complex PTSD
  • screen for PTSD
  • traumaA deeply distressing experience, such as violence, a serious accident or a disaster, or the lasting psychological harm that such an event can cause.
  • exposure therapyA behavioural treatment in which a person faces feared situations, objects, memories or sensations gradually and safely, so that fear decreases and avoidance stops.
  • anxietyA feeling of worry, tension or fear about something that might happen, often with physical signs such as a fast heartbeat; when intense and lasting, it can be part of a disorder.
  • memoryThe ability to take in, store and later recall information and experiences; the word can also mean one particular thing that is remembered.

More terms: Mental Health Conditions

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.