Post-traumatic stress disorder : a scar for life

Abstract The symptoms of flashbacks, nightmares and hypervigilance may be understood by those who have shared or understand a traumatic event, but the duration of such symptoms may well outstretch all expectations. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is serious, and may affect the rest of a sufferer's life. Traumatic situations are ubiquitous in the modern-day world, and can occur in both military and civilian settings. A great deal of research into the development and management of PTSD has been carried out in the past two decades; although many drug treatments and psychotherapeutic approaches have been investigated, no single method has been found to cure all the symptoms successfully.