What causes Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD)?
Experts cannot fully explain why some people develop PTSD while others do not. People of all ages are potential PTSD sufferers. It is especially common among people who have served in combat (often referred to as ‘shell-shock, battle fatigue, or combat stress’). We do know that there are some risk factors (a risk factor may raise the chances of PTSD occurring): • Traumatic events that commonly trigger PTSD in men – these include combat exposure, rape, childhood neglect and physical abuse. • Traumatic events that commonly trigger PTSD in women – these include rape, sexual molestation, physical attack, being threatened with a weapon, childhood physical abuse. • Other traumatic events that trigger PTSD – these include fire, natural disasters, muggings, robbery, assault, civil conflict, automobile accident, airplane crash, torture, kidnapping, terrorist attack, and being attacked by an animal. • Life threatening medical diagnosis or a major medical event – this study found that breast canc
