Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a part of organized psychiatry and it is only in existence since past two decades. However it is known since centuries. Pierre Janet was the first person that wrote brilliantly about this organized form of Psychiatry. Freud felt that traumatic events faced by a child in earlier childhood takes the form of Post Traumatic Stress disorder. This disorder was called Shell Shock in World War I and combat fatigue in World War II.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the trauma itself and the persons' response to the trauma. Trauma comes into existence, when a person introduced to a terrible situation like flood, cyclone, war etc in which he / she felt the danger / death to some loved ones or self. The person response to the traumatic event takes the form of organized Psychiatry i.e, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This is the psychiatry that is frequently shown by Prisoner of War (POW) groups and soldier. People staying near war torn areas also shows the symptoms of PTSD.

However, developing of strong reactions to some traumatic situation is normal. But level and depth of reaction shown by persons varies individual to individual and the intence form of the reaction is PTSD.

Symptoms

PTSD symptoms are shown in three different ways

Re-experiencing the trauma
Persistent avoidance
Increased arousal

Re-experiencing the trauma is the distressing collections of traumatic memories a person have. For example; a person may re-experience the trauma in nightmares or as flash back during the day. External cues in the surroundings may also remind a person the situations he /she has faced earlier resulting in the psychological distress. In such situations a person sweat heavily and his / her heart beat rate also become very high and rapid.

The persistence avoidance refers to the persons' efforts to avoid traumatic thought or circumstances that may trigger the earlier memories. This psychogenic amnesia can lead to a variety of reactions. The patient may be disinterested in the activities that give pleasure, feel detached from other people, family and friends, always feel sad and visualize that the future is very short.

The increased arousal includes disturbed sleep, irritability, extreme anger, low concentration to work, increased care and an exaggerated startle response when shocked.

Treatments

Except disturbed sleep all types of PTSD symptoms respond to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). If the patient also suffers from manic depression, a mood stabilizer such as lithium or divalproex sodium is added to the medications. For sleep disturbance trazodone (Desyrel), zolpidem (Ambien) or Nefazodone (Serzone) is provided. Besides the medication, the patient lso recommended to take help of an expert therapist. The combination of medications and therapies make the well recovery of a patient.

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