What Is Ptsd And What Causes It? A Review By Doctors

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder image

Expert opinion from Howard E. Lewine

M.D. Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing · 40 years of experience · USA

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a severe and potentially debilitating mental health disorder that affects people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. Many of these traumatic events are accidents (or near misses), injuries, or serious health issues. Other examples include the sudden death of a friend or loved one, or a national or global event like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expert opinion from Gustavo Campos

Doctor of Medicine · 9 years of experience · Brazil

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder. It happens as a result of coping with and adjusting to a terrible, often horrifying incident that one has experienced or witnessed. People might suffer from great anxiety by remembering the past in such a manner that it interferes with fundamental everyday functioning.

Expert opinion from Marcella Abunahman Pereira

Specialization in Clinical Cardiology · 12 years of experience · Brazil

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can develop after a very stressful, frightening or distressing event or after a prolonged traumatic experience. Types of events that can lead to PTSD include serious accidents, physical or sexual assault, childhood or domestic abuse, war and conflict and the death of someone close to you.

→ Learn more about post traumatic stress disorder: See the causes, symptoms, treatment options and more.

→ See more questions and expert answers related to post traumatic stress disorder.

Disclaimer: This is for information purpose only, and should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. These are opinions from an external panel of individual doctors, and not to be considered as opinion of Microsoft. Please seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns.