Do the symptoms of PTSD have the same duration and/or intensity for all affected individuals?
No. PTSD may, for example, be particularly severe or prolonged if the source of distress is related to actions by another person (e.g., torture, rape). In addition, the probability of developing this condition may increase in relation to the intensity and physical proximity of the source of distress. Health professionals can define the type of PTSD based on characteristics such as when the symptoms started and how long they have lasted, i.e.: • acute PTSD (symptoms persist for less than three months); • chronic PTSD (symptoms persist for three months or more); • delayed onset PTSD (six months pass between the traumatic event and the onset of symptoms). It should also be noted that the symptoms, the relative impact of reliving or re-experiencing the traumatic event, avoidance and hyperwakefulness may vary over time. The duration of symptoms is likewise variable, with a complete recovery occurring within three months in about half of cases, while many other individuals have symptoms that
