Diseases and Conditions
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Overview
Symptoms
Causes
Risk factors
Complications
Prevention
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping and support
Preparing for an appointment
Causes
You can develop post-traumatic stress disorder when you go through, see or learn about an event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violation.
Doctors aren't sure why some people get PTSD. As with most mental health problems, PTSD is probably caused by a complex mix of:
- Stressful experiences, including the amount and severity of trauma you've gone through in your life
- Inherited mental health risks, such as a family history of anxiety and depression
- Inherited features of your personality — often called your temperament
- The way your brain regulates the chemicals and hormones your body releases in response to stress