Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic psychiatric disorder suffered by an individual following a traumatic event. A timely diagnosis is essential because it might be challenging to differentiate it from other psychiatric disorders. A structured interview based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V manual remains the mainstay of diagnosis. On exposure to the traumatic event, the classical presenting features manifest as a recurrence of persistent, unprovoked, and intrusive recollection of that event, which, in turn, triggers abnormal avoidance, fear, and exaggerated physiological response with negative cognitive reinforcement. Psychotherapy remains the treatment of choice, along with pharmacotherapy. Exposure therapy and cognitive rehabilitation are the two main domains of cognitive behavioral therapy. In addition, vagus nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and other neuromodulation treatment options may be of value in refractory cases.