Post‐traumatic stress disorder following medical events

Four patients developed characteristic symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder following medical and surgical events. Post‐traumatic symptomatology was associated with poor recovery, a tendency to avoid further medical treatment and life‐threatening behaviour. The authors provide clinical guidelines for the diagnosis of PTSD among patients whose medical conditions or treatment are highly stressful and discuss the need for prompt diagnosis and treatment of specific mental disorders among the medically ill. 1993 The British Psychological Society