Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

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Criterion A: Exposure to death, threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence in one (or more) of the following way(s):

• Direct experience of the trauma
• Witnessing firsthand the trauma
• Learning a relative or close friend was exposed to a trauma
• Repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of trauma, typically experienced by first responders, medics, police officers, etc.

Criterion B: Presence of one (or more) intrusive symptoms associated with the traumatic event(s) after the event(s) occurred:

• Recurrent distressing memories
• Recurring nightmares
• Flashbacks, or disassociative reactions in which the person feels the trauma repeating
• Intense or prolonged psychological distress in the face of reminders
• Physical reactions in the face of reminders

Criterion C: Avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, as evidence by one or more of the following:

• Avoidance of distressing memories and thoughts about the trauma
• Avoidance of distressing external reminders of the trauma, like people, places, conversations, and activities

Criterion D: Negative alterations to mood and cognition, as evidenced by two (or more) of the following:

• Inability to remember important aspects of the trauma
• Exaggerated negative thoughts about oneself, others, or the world
• Blaming oneself or others for the trauma
• Persistence negative emotional state, like fear, horror, anger, guilt, or shame
• Diminished interest in activities
• Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others
• Inability to experience positive emotions

Criterion E: Alterations in arousal and reactivity, as evidenced by two or more of the following:

• Irritability and angry outbursts with little or no provocation
• Reckless and self-destructive behavior
• Hypervigilance
• Exaggerated startle response
• Problems with concentration
• Difficulty sleeping

Criterion F: Duration of the disturbance is more than 1 month.

Criterion G: The disturbance causes significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, and other important areas of functioning.

Criterion H: Symptoms are not due to medication, substance use, or another medical condition.

Two specifications are part of this diagnostic criteria, too, and are summarized as follows:

Dissociative Specification: In addition to meeting criteria for PTSD, the person experiences high levels of either of the following in reaction to trauma-related stimuli:

• Depersonalization. Experience of being detached from one’s self or body, as if one were in a dream.
• Derealization. Experience of unreality, like the world were unreal, dreamlike, distant, or distorted.

Delayed Specification: Full diagnostic criteria are not met until at least six months after the traumatic event(s), although onset of symptoms may be immediate.

References:

 1. DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for PTSD 

2.  Cannabidiol: A Potential New Alternative for the Treatment of Anxiety, Depression, and Psychotic Disorders

3. Use of Medicinal Cannabis and Synthetic Cannabinoids in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Systematic Review

4. Cannabinoids and post-traumatic stress disorder: clinical and preclinical evidence for treatment and prevention

5. Marijuana and other cannabinoids as a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: A literature review

6. Cannabinoids as an Emerging Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Use Disorders

7. Use of cannabinoids for the treatment of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder