Introduction
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is considered a Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorder, a condition that affects individuals exposed to a traumatic event but can be alleviated with treatment over the course of one’s lifetime. While PTSD may not be easily diagnosed, there are treatment options that provide crucial support for trauma recovery, such as psychotherapy, behavioral cognition therapy, and practicing mindfulness. Recognizing the symptoms of PTSD, which mark persistent, maladaptive changes in cognition and behavior, is a particular process that requires time and relies on the individual’s cooperation and openness to discuss their trauma.
History of PTSD and Complex PTSD
In the late 19th century, passengers injured by railway collisions provided the earliest scientific record of what would later be known as PTSD. While their psychological symptoms reflected the impact of disaster on survivors (Crocq, M. A., & Crocq, L. 49), knowledge of post-traumatic symptoms—nightmares, sleep disturbances, and anxiety—had already been documented in writings about soldiers traumatized by war. During World Wars I and II, intense stress from combat caused severe emotional distress in soldiers, termed “shell shock” and other forms of trauma, resulting in significant efforts to document the extreme effects of combat exposure and the lasting effects of war trauma during this period.
The first formal mention of the term PTSD occurred after the Vietnam War, in 1980, when posttraumatic stress disorder was classified under anxiety disorders (Miller et al., 9). While trauma was acknowledged as a primary cause of psychological distress, its description remained vague and undeveloped, hindering the development of effective medical treatments and causing confusion when diagnosing. The vagueness concerning the complexity of trauma ultimately led to diagnostic revisions and the proposal of "disorders of extreme stress" as a new diagnostic category, but not officially adopted in formal literature. PTSD then became reclassified under the category “Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders," and Complex PTSD (CPTSD), which is characterized by prolonged and repeated trauma, can be differentiated from the single-event trauma often associated with PTSD.
Diagnosing PTSD
While the discovery of PTSD and its inclusion have long been in development–reflecting, in part, the difficulty in formally recognizing and characterizing trauma–the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder have been identified since the late 19th century. To be diagnosed, a patient must have been exposed to a traumatic event and must experience symptoms for at least a period of a month, and they must undergo the following to be diagnosed: Intrusion symptoms, which are the re-experiencing of a traumatic event and are otherwise known as flashbacks. They include obsessive thoughts, vivid memories, or nightmares, causing distress in everyday life. Someone who may experience trauma may try to avoid thoughts, feelings, people, places, or other stimuli that triggers memories of the traumatic event, called avoidance symptoms, which may delay initial or ongoing personal and social help. They may also have persistent negative beliefs, expectations, or distortions of themselves or others. In general, the patient exhibits altered responses, being in a negative emotional state, feeling detached from others, or having problems concentrating or being easily startled.
Some traumas are more complex than others. They can be long-lasting, occurring since childhood, or can develop from chronic or personal traumas. Complex PTSD is diagnosed by additional symptoms such as “difficulty with managing emotions, feeling worthless, and withdrawing from or feeling distant from others” (U.S Department of Veterans Affairs). PTSD treatments are often used to treat Complex PTSD however, since the diagnosis of the latter has been more recent and thus less developed. Treatment focused on the patient’s trauma is most effective and the topic of treatment continues to be researched.
Treatment of PTSD
Despite the complexities of trauma and the continuous research necessary to advance treatment, self-care and professional treatment options provide methods of PTSD recovery and reduce the impact that trauma has on the individual. Self-care, which encompasses personal safety, physical health, and mindfulness, plays a vital role in managing PTSD symptoms and promoting overall well-being. Treatments such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which aims to address traumatic memories, and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), which focuses on reinterpreting trauma-related thoughts, are established psychotherapy-based treatments. By combining professional treatment with a personalized self-care plan, individuals can effectively manage their PTSD symptoms, regain control of their lives, and work towards healing and recovery.
Conclusion
A comprehensive understanding of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continues to develop since the late 19th century, and has only recently been recognized as a Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorder. The difficulties in diagnosing PTSD, in part due to the challenge in recognizing trauma and understanding the characteristics of complex trauma, make diagnosing Complex PTSD formidable and suggest that treatment will need to be researched further. Focusing on someone’s symptoms and potential exposure to a traumatic event, and understanding that there is psychological and personal/social help available, PTSD can be identified and crucial support to the individuals affected can be provided. Their treatment takes time, cooperation, and openness, and ultimately requires trust with the people around them.
References
Barnhill, J. W. (2023). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Merck Manual Professional Version.
https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric-disorders/anxiety-and-stressor-related-disorders/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd
Crocq, M. A., & Crocq, L. (2000). From shell shock and war neurosis to posttraumatic stress disorder: a history of psychotraumatology. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 2(1), 47–55.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3181586/
Finch J. (2017) The history of the diagnosis of PTSD. Centre for Clinical Psychology.
https://psychpd.com.au/history-diagnosis-ptsd/
LifeStance Health. (2023). Revisiting the nightmares.
https://lifestance.com/blog/symptoms-of-ptsd/
Miller, J. J. (2024). Complex PTSD: A Necessary DSM Addition. Psychiatric Times, 41(10), 9-10 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2025). Complex PTSD. PTSD: National Center for PTSD.
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/what/complex_ptsd.asp
Traumadissociation.com. History of PTSD. (Jun 12, 2025). Retrieved from
https://traumadissociation.com/ptsd/history-of-post-traumatic-stress-disorder.html
