Advances in Psychiatric Treatment (2007) 13: 369-375. doi: 10.1192/apt.bp.106.003236
© 2007 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Post-traumatic stress disorder, resilience and vulnerability

Ayesha S. Ahmed

Ayesha Ahmed is a trainee psychiatrist at Bradgate Mental Health Unit (Glenfield General Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9EJ, UK. Email: ayeshasahmed25{at}yahoo.co.uk). Her interest in post-traumatic stress disorder stems from involvement with the British Pakistani Psychiatrists Association’s Earthquake Trauma Relief Initiative (ETRI) for the victims of the earthquake in Pakistan in October 2005. She has a keen interest in teaching and has set up a website, Simply Psychiatry (http://www.simplypsychiatry.co.uk) for the MRCPsych part I OSCE exam.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), recognised as a diagnostic entity in 1980, was originally associated with combat or war experiences. It has since been recognised that it is prevalent in any population exposed to traumatic events. Although much has been written about the management of PTSD, the concepts of resilience and vulnerability have not received the same attention. This article reviews the conceptualisation, epidemiology and comorbidities of PTSD and highlights the factors underlying vulnerability and conveying resilience.