This paper is a discussion of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adolescents. PTSD is a relatively recent diagnosis which recognizes the fact that the direct or indirect experience of traumatic events can trigger severe psychological responses that present through a series of related symptoms and interfere with the individual's ability to function. When such trauma occurs to an adolescent, the results can be especially disruptive since they are happening during a critical period of development and can also interfere with personality formation and the individual's process of learning to cope with the world. Diagnosis is complex; a range of criteria must be present in order to diagnose PTSD accurately. Early intervention can help to mediate the impact of trauma, as can factors in the individual's life, including personal resilience and social support. Trauma can also be aggravated by the presence of other stressors and the context in which the trauma occurs, and effective treatment must address all of the factors surrounding the trauma.
PTSD as a psychiatric diagnosis has its origins in the psychological reactions of combat veterans, especially those who fought under particularly violent, brutal battle conditions. Mary Desmond Pinkowish (1999, October 15) observes,
Today, . . . the diagnosis is applied broadly to the development of multiple affective, cognitive, behavioral, and identity reactions to any number of traumatic life experiences, including accidents, natural disasters, acute illnesses, acts of terrorism, physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, and wartime stressors" (p. 171).
PTSD can be triggered by any number of events, but the responses it creates must follow a predictable pattern in order to achieve an accurate diagnosis.
The fourth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (1994) characterizes PTSD as an anxiety disorder. The DSM-IV...