This threat must involve witnessed or experienced threat of death, injury or damage to physical integrity (Friedman et al., 1998). .
There are three specific classifications of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. They are distinguishable by different timings in development of symptoms and whether or not symptoms persist beyond what is considered a "normal" adjustment period. When the symptoms only last up to three months after the traumatic experience, the condition is considered to be acute stress disorder. If the diagnostic symptoms do not decrease in severity, and an individual continues to experience disturbances as a result of the traumatic exposure after the initial three months, the condition is considered to be Chronic. Sometimes the individual may not even develop the typical symptoms of PTSD for up to six months following the traumatic event, which is considered to be PTSD With Delayed Onset. While the stated facts provide a basic understanding of the nature, and potential complexity of PTSD, a complete list of diagnostic criteria for PTSD is provided in Appendix A (DSM-IV-TR, 2000). .
The satisfaction of all criteria necessary for the final diagnosis of PTSD is critical because the symptoms associated with PTSD are typical of many other anxiety disorders. These affiliated disorders include Major Depressive Disorder, Substance-Related Disorders, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Specific Phobia, and Bipolar Disorder (DSM-IV-TR, 2000). .
PTSD affects about 8% of the adult population in the United States (DSM-IV-TR, 2000). There are many ways in which an individual might develop PTSD, and gender seems to play some role in predicting its causes. According to Psychologynet (2002), women are most likely to experience symptoms of PTSD as a result of rape and/or physical assault, while men were more likely to develop symptoms as a result of either physical assault, or seeing someone become seriously hurt or killed.
