PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Explained in Under 2 Minutes

PTSD may occur after a traumatic or life-threatening event.

Written by Marisa Taylor Karas | Reviewed by Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP

Updated on May 13, 2025

Reviewed by Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP | May 13, 2025

PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a mental health condition that sometimes occurs after living through or witnessing a traumatic event. It can have serious and lasting effects on mental health. Treatment for PTSD often requires the help of a mental health professional.

In this video, learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatments for PTSD.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2020). What is posttraumatic stress disorder?

Anxiety and Depression Association of America. (2021). Treatment & facts post-traumatic stress disorder.

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (US). (2014). Exhibit 1.3-4, DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services.

Lancaster, C., et al. (2016). Posttraumatic stress disorder: overview of evidence-based assessment and treatment. Journal of Clinical Medicine.

National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2017). Posttraumatic stress disorder.

National Institute of Mental Health. (2019). Post-traumatic stress disorder.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Medications for PTSD.

Watkins, L. E., et al. (2018). Treating PTSD: a review of evidence-based psychotherapy interventions. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience.

Wilson, G., et al. (2018). The use of eye-movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in treating post-traumatic stress disorder — a systematic narrative review. Frontiers in Psychology.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

For additional resources or to connect with mental health services in your area, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. For immediate assistance, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or text HOME to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.

why trust our exports reliability shield

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Marisa Taylor Karas

Marisa Taylor Karas is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn who has covered health, gender, and technology for 15 years. She previously worked at The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera America, among other publications, and also served as managing editor of the Mellon Foundation in New York City.

Reviewed by:

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.