الفهرس 
• PTSD in the Middle EastOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a disorder of considerable prevalence, often characterized by high morbidity, treatment resistance, and a chronic course.
The aim of this work is to review the diagnostic criteria of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Diseases (DSM IV) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10) classification systems, and the recent approaches of management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Historical background:
Although only known since 1980, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder has been known under various names throughout history. These names include irritable heart of the soldiers, shell shock, traumatic neurosis of the war, Concentration Camp Syndrome, Gross Stress Reaction and Reactive Neurosis.
Diagnostic Criteria:
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder has three core clusters symptoms which occur as a response to stressful event of an exceptionally threatening or catastrophic nature. These cluster of symptoms
-Reexperiencing Symptoms.
-Avoidance symptoms.
-Hyperarousal symptoms.
Etiology:
In Posttraumatic Stress Disorder there are changes in non-adrenergic, endogenous opiates, dopaminergic, serotonergic, hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and bezodiazepene receptors brain systems. There is also affection of several brain structures notably the amygdale, the locus cerulus, the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.
Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder:
Different therapeutic approaches are believed to be helpful in the treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. These approaches include:
-Pharmacotherapy:
Antidepressants, SSRI, MAO inhibitors, Benzodiazepenes, Adrenergic Blockers, Mood Stabilizers and Neuroleptics.
-Cognitive-Behavioral therapy:
Psychoeducation, Exposure strategies, Cognitive restructuring and social skills training.
All of these approaches have been found efficious on the basis of controlled and double blind studies.
Using an integrated approach in which these methods are utilized seems to give the best results.