Question

What is the difference between posttraumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder?

A. The nature of the trauma
B. The symptoms that follow the trauma
C. The impairment resulting from the symptoms
D. The duration of the symptoms
E. The age of the patient

Answer 1

The main difference between PTSD and acute stress disorder is the duration of symptoms; PTSD lasts for more than a month, while acute stress disorder symptoms persist from three days to one month following the traumatic event.

Step-by-step explanation:

The difference between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder lies in the duration of the symptoms. PTSD is characterized by symptoms that persist for longer than one month following a traumatic event and can last for years. In contrast, acute stress disorder involves similar symptoms but they are limited to a duration of three days to one month after the trauma. Both disorders can result from similar types of severe psychological trauma and can lead to similar symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors, and increased arousal, but the main distinguishing factor is how long these symptoms last.