NCBI Bookshelf. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (US). Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services.
Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2014. (Treatment
Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 57.)
Exhibit 1.3-4 DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for PTSD
Note: The following criteria apply to adults, adolescents, and children older than 6 years.
For children 6 years and younger, see the DSM-5 section titled “Posttraumatic Stress
Disorder for Children 6 Years and Younger” (APA, 2013a).
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
event(s). 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
reenactment 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:
1. Inability to remember an important aspect of the traumatic event(s) (typically
due to dissociative amnesia, and not to other factors such as head injury,
alcohol, or drugs).
2. Persistent and exaggerated negative beliefs or expectations about oneself,
others, or the world (e.g., “I am bad,” “No one can be trusted,” “The world is
completely dangerous,” “My whole nervous system is permanently ruined”).
3. Persistent, distorted cognitions about the cause or consequences of the
traumatic event(s) that lead the individual to blame himself/herself or others.
4. Persistent negative emotional state (e.g., fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame).
5. Markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities.
6. Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others.
7. Persistent inability to experience positive emotions (e.g., inability to experience
happiness, satisfaction, or loving feelings).
E. Marked alterations in arousal and reactivity associated with the traumatic event(s),
beginning or worsening after the traumatic event(s) occurred, as evidenced by two (or
more) of the following:
1. Irritable behavior and angry outbursts (with little or no provocation), typically
expressed as verbal or physical aggression toward people or objects.
2. Reckless or self-destructive behavior.
3. Hypervigilance.
4. Exaggerated startle response.
5. Problems with concentration.
6. Sleep disturbance (e.g., difficulty falling or staying asleep or restless sleep).
F. Duration of the disturbance (Criteria B, C, D and E) is more than 1 month.
G. The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social,
occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
H. The disturbance is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g.,
medication, alcohol) or another medical condition.
Specify whether:
With dissociative symptoms: The individual’s symptoms meet the criteria for
posttraumatic stress disorder, and in addition, in response to the stressor, the individual
experiences persistent or recurrent symptoms of either of the following:
1. Depersonalization: Persistent or recurrent experiences of feeling detached from, and
as if one were an outside observer of, one’s mental processes or body (e.g., feeling as
though one were in a dream; feeling a sense of unreality of self or body or of time
moving slowly).
2. Derealization: Persistent or recurrent experiences of unreality of surroundings (e.g.,
the world around the individual is experienced as unreal, dreamlike, distant, or
distorted). Note: To use this subtype, the dissociative symptoms must not be
attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., blackouts, behavior
during alcohol intoxication) or another medical condition (e.g., complex partial
seizures).
Specify whether:
With delayed expression: If the full diagnostic criteria are not met until at least 6 months
after the event (although the onset and expression of some symptoms may be immediate).
Source: APA, 2013a, pp. 271–272.
From: Chapter 3, Understanding the Impact of Trauma
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