Studies suggest that anywhere between 2 percent and 9 percent of the
population has had some degree of PTSD.

However, the likelihood of developing the disorder is greater when
someone is exposed to multiple traumas or traumatic events early in life
(or both), especially if the trauma is long term or repeated.

More cases of this disorder are found among inner-city youths and people
who have recently emigrated from troubled countries. And women seem to
develop PTSD more often than men.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

Although the symptoms for individuals with PTSD can vary considerably,
they generally fall into three categories:

. Re-experience - Individuals with PTSD often experience recurrent
and intrusive recollections of and/or nightmares about the stressful
event. Some may experience flashbacks, hallucinations, or other vivid
feelings of the event happening again. Others experience great
psychological or physiological distress when certain things (objects,
situations, etc.) remind them of the event.


. Avoidance - Many with PTSD will persistently avoid things that
remind them of the traumatic event. This can result in avoiding
everything from thoughts, feelings, or conversations associated with the
incident to activities, places, or people that cause them to recall the
event. In others there may be a general lack of responsiveness signaled
by an inability to recall aspects of the trauma, a decreased interest in
formerly important activities, a feeling of detachment from others, a
limited range of emotion, and/or feelings of hopelessness about the
future.


. Increased arousal - Symptoms in this area may include difficulty
falling or staying asleep, irritability or outbursts of anger,
difficulty concentrating, becoming very alert or watchful, and/or
jumpiness or being easily startled.