The history of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis is long and convoluted. Though descriptions of PTSD-like disorders have reappeared throughout historical accounts and literature for as long as we can remember, only recently did the scientific and medical community decide to officially incorporate the diagnosis into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).The first medical professionals to describe the disorder used terms such as u201cbattle hypnosisu201d or u201cshell shocku201d around the time of World War I. A few years before the Vietnam War, the first edition of the DSM included a diagnosis for u201cgross stress reactionu201d. Interestingly enough, the second edition had no such diagnostic category even though it was published during Vietnam. The first time that the term post traumatic stress disorder was coined was with the publication of DSM-III in 1980 [1] .According to the National Institute of Mental Health, u201cPTSD is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous eventu201d [2] . Our bodies naturally respond to such situations with a typical u201cfight-or-flightu201d response that eventually wears off after a few minutes, hours, or even weeks depending on the circumstances. However, those suffering from PTSD can experience the heightened reaction and feelings associated with such a response repeatedly, even when they are not in danger of experiencing trauma more than a month after the original event [2] .Under the traditional definition of PTSD, one must have been directly exposed or witnessed and/or learned of a close relative or friendu2019s exposure, or experienced indirect exposure to trauma details in a professional setting (i.e. medics) at some point in their life.According to the 5th Edition of the DSM such a person has to also experience symptoms in four main categories to be diagnosed with PTSD:1. The person must repeatedly re-experience the traumatic event in the form of disruptive thoughts, nightmares, flashbacks, or emotionally or physically become distressed about being re-exposed to reminders of the trauma.2. The person must exhibit avoidance tactics when it comes to trauma-related thoughts, feelings, or reminders.3. The person must exhibit at least two negative thoughts or feelings about the trauma or how it has affected them.4. Lastly, the person must exhibit at least two trauma-related arousal symptoms that reoccur long after the traumatic event has occurred.If all of these criteria are met, the symptoms last for more than a month, and they cause the patient to be unable to perform or go about their daily lives in a functional manner, than the patient will be diagnosed with PTSD [3] .References:1. Crocq, M., & Crocq, L. (2000, March). From shell shock and war neurosis to posttraumatic stress disorder: a history of psychotraumatology. Retrieved July 24, 2024. from From shell shock and war neurosis to posttraumatic stress disorder: a history of psychotraumatology2. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. (n.d.). Retrieved July 24, 2024. from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder3. PTSD: National Center for PTSD. (2016, June 10). Retrieved July 24, 2024. from PTSD: National Center for PTSD