ABSTRACT
In the last decade post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has emerged as an interesting and important phenomenon in the legal system. Several factors account for this growth of interest in PTSD by attorneys, judges, and mental health experts involved in the forensic process. First, the high prevalence of PTSD among Vietnam veterans has resulted in the use of PTSD as a legal defense in criminal cases (Erlinder, 1984). Second, there has been an expanding awareness and acceptance of PTSD as a unique mental disorder which afflicts a broad cross-section of victimized individuals in our society. As a consequence of traumatization, those who suffer inevitably fall into the arms of justice for one reason or another. For example, children who have been abused or violated by their parents may become the subject of custody suits. Persons who are the victims of job-related injuries may be unable to work and may seek social security benefits, pension claims, or compensation for personal injuries. Similarly, individuals who are the victim of man-made or natural disasters may litigate to get financial compensation for the psychological damages that have impaired their ability to live a normal and productive life.
