Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition with multiple subtypes that can cause a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms. Depending on the type, symptoms can range from mild to severe.

People can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. While many people associate PTSD with combat veterans, it can affect anyone who has had an experience that threatened their physical health or physical safety.

The subtypes of PTSD can have different causes, and the severity of symptoms may vary. Treatment can help people address the root cause of PTSD and find ways to manage their symptoms.

In this article, we discuss the various types of PTSD, their characteristics, and the treatment options.

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There are multiple types of PTSD, and people can experience a wide range of symptoms. Some people may recover quickly after a traumatic event, while others might develop certain conditions and experience more long-term effects.

Each type of PTSD can affect daily life and cause different challenges. Understanding the types of PTSD is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment.

What is PTSD?

PTSD is a mental health condition that can affect people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic, stressful, or frightening event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, or an assault.

Symptoms of PTSD may include:

The main treatments for PTSD are behavioral therapies, counseling, and medication. Sometimes, a doctor may prescribe a combination of these.

Learn more about PTSD.

Typical PTSD is a complex mental health condition that results from exposure to traumatic events. It can significantly affect a person’s mental well-being and will affect about 6.8% of people in the United States at some point in their lives.

Typical PTSD can cause an intense emotional response. Symptoms usually begin within 3 months of a traumatic event, but they can sometimes surface years later.

There are four main categories of symptoms:

  • Intrusion: nightmares or flashbacks
  • Avoidance: avoidance of situations that remind the person of the event
  • Mood and thinking symptoms: feelings of guilt and blame
  • Arousal and reactivity symptoms: tense and anxious feelings

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision, a person will receive a PTSD diagnosis only if these symptoms last more than a month and are severe enough to interfere with relationships or work.

CPTSD often arises from exposure to repeated trauma over a long period, particularly during childhood. This type of PTSD involves all the symptoms of typical PTSD as well as additional symptoms, such as:

CPTSD is common among people who experience long-term abuse such as:

Treatment often requires a comprehensive approach that addresses both the trauma and its extensive emotional and psychological effects. Researchers are still attempting to understand how it differs from other conditions.

Learn more about CPTSD.

Secondary trauma, also known as secondary traumatic stress (STS), involves trauma reactions that therapists and social workers may experience in the long term as a result of continuing to hear about clients’ traumatic experiences.

STS varies across professions and studies. A 2021 review of studies involving medical professionals across 10 hospitals in the United States found that about 34% presented at least one symptom of STS due to their exposure to people who had experienced trauma.

STS symptoms relate to thoughts, emotions, and behaviors resulting from knowing about traumatic events that others have experienced. The symptoms are the same as those that occur in PTSD and may include:

This condition can be particularly challenging because it often affects people who are in caregiving or supportive roles and can decrease their emotional resilience and affect their job performance.

Acute stress disorder occurs within a month after a traumatic event. It shares many symptoms with PTSD, such as:

  • intrusive memories
  • negative mood
  • avoidance
  • arousal symptoms

The key difference is the duration. A doctor diagnoses acute stress disorder when symptoms occur for 3 days to 1 month after the traumatic event.

People who do not experience acute stress disorder can still develop PTSD later on.

Early intervention may sometimes be helpful, but the symptoms may decrease on their own after the first month.

Significant trauma in early life can cause dissociative PTSD (D-PTSD). This condition sometimes co-occurs with other mental health conditions. Dissociative symptoms include:

  • Derealization: A person feels as if the world is not real.
  • Depersonalization: A person feels as if they themselves are not real.

People with D-PTSD may feel as though they are watching themselves from outside their body or that the world around them is not real. These dissociative symptoms are a way for the mind to cope with overwhelming trauma.

Comorbid PTSD involves the presence of PTSD alongside other mental health conditions, such as:

This type is more complex and challenging to treat, as it requires addressing multiple conditions at the same time. Integrated treatment approaches are essential. Mental health professionals will often combine therapy and medication to manage the symptoms of both PTSD and the comorbid conditions.

Effectively treating the different types of PTSD requires tailoring a multifaceted approach to each person’s specific PTSD type and symptoms. Common treatments include:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Doctors often prescribe CBT and trauma-focused CBT. These therapies focus on reframing negative thought patterns and helping people process and make sense of their trauma.
  • Prolonged exposure therapy: Controlled exposure to fears about a traumatic event in a safe space can help reduce feelings of anxiety and distress.
  • Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: During this type of therapy, a person recalls the traumatic experience while performing rapid eye movements to allow their brain to process the memories correctly.
  • Cognitive processing therapy: This therapy helps a person evaluate and change the negative or intrusive thoughts they have had since experiencing trauma.
  • Medications: Antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can help manage symptoms of PTSD. A doctor may prescribe other medications to address additional mental health conditions.
  • Healthy lifestyle habits: Regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and mindfulness practices can aid recovery and help manage PTSD symptoms when a person maintains these habits in addition to established structured treatments.

Support is crucial for people who are experiencing PTSD and can help them cope with the condition’s emotional, mental, and financial effects.

The following organizations offer information on support groups:

Support groups can be beneficial because they provide a space to talk and connect with others who have had similar experiences. Additional support and resources for people with PTSD may include:

  • accessible treatment
  • emotional support
  • financial support

PTSD is a complex and multifaceted condition that has multiple types, each of which requires a specific treatment approach. Understanding the differences between these types is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment.

Support from loved ones and healthcare professionals, in combination with appropriate therapies and lifestyle changes, can significantly improve the quality of life for people who are experiencing any type of PTSD. Recognizing and addressing PTSD in its various forms is essential to recovery.