post-traumatic stress disorder

noun

: a psychological reaction occurring after experiencing a highly stressing event (such as wartime combat, physical violence, or a natural disaster) that is usually characterized by depression, anxiety, flashbacks, recurrent nightmares, and avoidance of reminders of the event

—abbreviation PTSD

called also post-traumatic stress syndrome

Examples of post-traumatic stress disorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That includes people on the autism spectrum, veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and elders with dementia. —Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Mar. 2023

While recovering from his wounds, he’s met people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. —Manuel Roig-Franzia, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1980, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

post-traumatic stress disorder

noun

: a psychological reaction that occurs after experiencing a highly stressing event (as wartime combat, physical violence, or a natural disaster) outside the range of normal human experience and that is usually characterized by depression, anxiety, flashbacks, recurrent nightmares, and avoidance of reminders of the event

—abbreviation PTSD

called also delayed-stress disorder, delayed-stress syndrome, post-traumatic stress syndrome

compare combat fatigue