Mental and behavioural disorder that can develop because of exposure to a traumatic event

Aetiology

Trauma-related risk factors

• Man-made rather than natural events
• Prolonged exposure
• Perceived threat to life

Patient-related risk factors

• Family or personal history of mental disorder
• Serious physical injury (patient's perception)
• Past experience of trauma, especially childhood/developmental trauma

Environmental risk factors

• Lack of a support network
• Lack of economic resources
• Disadvantage
• Ongoing life stresses

Pathophysiology

Traumatic events

• Trauma can be intentional (e.g. assault) or unintentional (e.g. car accident)
• Type I trauma: involves a single incident - sudden, unexpected
• Type 2 trauma (complex trauma): involves repetitive trauma e.g. ongoing abuse, betrayal of trust in primary caregiving relationship, developmental trauma (attachment/attunement issues)