post-traumatic stress disorder

noun

: a psychological reaction occurring after experiencing a highly stressing event (such as wartime combat, physical violence, or a natural disaster) that is usually characterized by depression, anxiety, flashbacks, recurrent nightmares, and avoidance of reminders of the event

—abbreviation PTSD

called also post-traumatic stress syndrome

Examples of post-traumatic stress disorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That includes people on the autism spectrum, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and elders with dementia. —Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Mar. 2023

While recovering from his wounds, he’s met people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. —Manuel Roig-Franzia, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2023

The research team was led by Alexander Niculescu, professor of psychiatry at Indiana University, who has already developed similar tests for mood disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. —Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 13 Mar. 2023

Australia's new rules allow MDMA to be prescribed for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psilocybin to be prescribed for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). —Dr. Nicholas Nissen, ABC News, 4 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

post–traumatic stress disorder

noun

post–trau·​mat·​ic stress disorder

ˌpōs(t)-trə-ˈmat-ik,

-trȯ-,

-trau̇-

: a psychological reaction occurring after a highly stressful experience (as military combat) that is usually characterized by depression, anxiety, flashbacks, and nightmares

Medical Definition

post-traumatic stress disorder

noun

: a psychological reaction that occurs after experiencing a highly stressing event (as wartime combat, physical violence, or a natural disaster) outside the range of normal human experience and that is usually characterized by depression, anxiety, flashbacks, recurrent nightmares, and avoidance of reminders of the event

—abbreviation PTSD

called also delayed-stress disorder, delayed-stress syndrome, post-traumatic stress syndrome

compare combat fatigue