Post-traumatic stress disorder

Abstract:

Although post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been long known as a clinical entity, it was only included in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1980 and 1992. Croatia immediately adopted both classifications of diseases and both were translated into Croatian language. As the name says, PTSD is a disorder, not a disease. Since it has a predictive rather than structural validity, it is diagnosed only on the basis of subjective parameters. This fact makes the diagnosis difficult, especially in situations when PTSD diagnosis is associated with second gains. Timely and adequate therapy in most patients leads to improvement or even complete cure of the symptoms. 

Key words:
diagnosis; physiopathology; stress disorders, post-traumatic; war