Appendix D

DSM-IV
Diagnostic criteria for 308.81 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

1. The person has been exposed to a traumatic event in which both the following were present:
   1. The person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others
   2. The person’s response involved fear, helplessness, or horror.
      Note: In children, this may be expressed instead by disorganised or agitated behavior
2. The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced in one (or more) of the following ways:
   1. Recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections of the event, including images, thoughts, or perceptions.
      Note: In young children, repetitive play may occur in which themes or aspects of the trauma are expressed.
   2. Recurrent distressing dreams of the event.
      Note: In children, there may be frightening dreams without recognisable content.
   3. Acting or feeling as if the traumatic event were recurring (includes a sense of reliving the experience, illusions, hallucinations, and dissociative flashback episodes, including those that occur on awakening or when intoxicated).
      Note: In young children, trauma-specific re-enactment may occur.
   4. Intense psychological distress at exposure to internal or external cues that symbolise or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event
   5. Physiological reactivity on exposure to internal or external cues that symbolise or resemble an aspect of the traumatic event