Summary

Although first described in battle reports as early as the 6th century, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) only entered the DSM lexicon in 1980. Despite being most often associated with veterans and the military, PTSD is not uncommon after many types of traumatic events, such as car accidents, natural disasters, and violent deaths. This article discusses the impact of PTSD on soldiers and their families and treatments that are currently available.