Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that may develop after a traumatizing event. The many possible presenting symptoms include recurrent flashbacks or numbing of memories of the event that persist for more than 1 month after the precipitant. The Comprehensive Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders documents many personal, family, and civil conditions or factors that will trigger or contribute to post-traumatic symptoms.
The understanding of stress-related mental disorders has increased exponentially since the term "post-traumatic stress disorder" was coined around the time of the Vietnam War in the late 1970s. It is difficult even for experienced scientists to remain up to date. For those new to the field, it is difficult to know which of the myriad of available sources are reliable. To assist colleagues who are interested in understanding more about PTSD, we have therefore produced tables containing reliable, up-to-date resources on PTSD in this chapter. This resource was compiled with help from many of the expert authors who contributed chapters to this book.