DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
(APA, 2013, pp. 271-272)
Note: The following criteria apply to adults, adolescents, and
children older than 6 years.
A. Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual
violence in one (or more) of the following ways:
1. Directly experiencing the traumatic event(s).
2. Witnessing in person the event(s) as it occurred to others.
3. Learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family
member or close friend. In cases of actual or threatened death of a
family member or friend, the event(s) must have been violent or
accidental.
4. Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the
traumatic event(s) (e.g., first responders collecting human remains;
police officers repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse).
Note: Criterion A4 does not apply to exposure through electronic
media,
television, movies, or pictures, unless this exposure is work related.
B. Presence of one (or more) of the following intrusion symptoms
associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning after the traumatic
event(s) occurred:
1. Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the
traumatic events.
Note: In children older than 6 years repetitive play may occur in which
themes or aspects of the traumatic event(s) are expressed.
2. Recurrent distressing dreams in which the content and/or affect of the
dream are related to the traumatic event(s).
, Note: In children, there may be frightening dreams without
recognizable content.
3. Dissociative reactions (e.g., flashbacks) in which the individual feels
or acts as if the traumatic event(s) were recurring. (Such reactions may
occur on a continuum, with the most extreme expression being a
complete loss of awareness of present surroundings.)
Note: In children, trauma-specific re-enactment may occur in play.
4. Intense or prolonged psychological distress at exposure to internal or
external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic
event(s).
5. Marked physiological reactions to internal or external cues that
symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s).
C. Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event(s),
beginning after the traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidenced by one or
both of the following:
1. Avoidance of or efforts to avoid distressing memories, thoughts, or
feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event(s).
2. Avoidance of or efforts to avoid external reminders (people, places,
conversations, activities, objects, situations) that arouse distressing
memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the
traumatic event(s).
D. Negative alterations in cognitions and mood associated with the
traumatic event(s), beginning or worsening after the traumatic
event(s) occurred, as evidenced by two (or more) of the following:
(APA, 2013, pp. 271-272)
Note: The following criteria apply to adults, adolescents, and
children older than 6 years.
A. Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual
violence in one (or more) of the following ways:
1. Directly experiencing the traumatic event(s).
2. Witnessing in person the event(s) as it occurred to others.
3. Learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family
member or close friend. In cases of actual or threatened death of a
family member or friend, the event(s) must have been violent or
accidental.
4. Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the
traumatic event(s) (e.g., first responders collecting human remains;
police officers repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse).
Note: Criterion A4 does not apply to exposure through electronic
media,
television, movies, or pictures, unless this exposure is work related.
B. Presence of one (or more) of the following intrusion symptoms
associated with the traumatic event(s), beginning after the traumatic
event(s) occurred:
1. Recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the
traumatic events.
Note: In children older than 6 years repetitive play may occur in which
themes or aspects of the traumatic event(s) are expressed.
2. Recurrent distressing dreams in which the content and/or affect of the
dream are related to the traumatic event(s).
, Note: In children, there may be frightening dreams without
recognizable content.
3. Dissociative reactions (e.g., flashbacks) in which the individual feels
or acts as if the traumatic event(s) were recurring. (Such reactions may
occur on a continuum, with the most extreme expression being a
complete loss of awareness of present surroundings.)
Note: In children, trauma-specific re-enactment may occur in play.
4. Intense or prolonged psychological distress at exposure to internal or
external cues that symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic
event(s).
5. Marked physiological reactions to internal or external cues that
symbolize or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event(s).
C. Persistent avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event(s),
beginning after the traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidenced by one or
both of the following:
1. Avoidance of or efforts to avoid distressing memories, thoughts, or
feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event(s).
2. Avoidance of or efforts to avoid external reminders (people, places,
conversations, activities, objects, situations) that arouse distressing
memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the
traumatic event(s).
D. Negative alterations in cognitions and mood associated with the
traumatic event(s), beginning or worsening after the traumatic
event(s) occurred, as evidenced by two (or more) of the following:
