ABSTRACT
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex mental disorder often resulting from exposure to sudden or repeatedly extreme traumatic events such as war, terrorism, natural or human-caused disaster, as well as violent personal assault, such as rape, mugging, domestic violence, and accidents. There is also a strong direct relationship between mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and PTSD.1,2 The symptoms of PTSD often appear within 3 months of the exposure to traumatic stressors, and they include unwanted reexperiencing of the trauma in memory (ashbacks, nightmares, and triggered emotional responses), passive and active avoidance (emotional numbing and avoidance of discussions about the traumatic event), and hyperarousal.3 In addition, PTSD is usually accompanied by other psychiatric and medical comorbidities, including depression, substance abuse, cognitive dysfunction, and other problems of physical and mental health, and in some cases, it can lead to suicide. It has been reported that PTSD is associated with general learning and memory impairment.4 These problems may lead to impairment of the ability to function in social life or family life including occupational instability, marital stress, and family problems. Some of the symptoms of PTSD overlap with other diseases including chronic fatigue syndrome, bromyalgia, and multiple chemical sensitivities.5
