What is a mental health condition that can occur after someone has gone through a traumatic event, such as war-related combat, sexual or physical assault, or a natural or man-made disaster?

• A. Acute stress disorder
• B. Major depressive disorder
• C. Post traumatic stress disorder
• D. Generalized anxiety disorder

Answer: (C)

After experiencing a traumatic event, PTSD describes a set of symptoms that persist and interfere with daily life. The hallmark is re-experiencing the trauma through intrusive memories, distressing dreams, or flashbacks, along with avoidance of reminders and negative changes in thoughts and mood, plus heightened arousal like sleep problems or exaggerated startle. These symptoms last more than a month and cause significant distress or impairment in functioning.

This pattern is what makes PTSD the best fit for the scenario, because it specifically links the condition to a traumatic exposure and a lasting course. Other options describe different disorders: acute stress disorder occurs soon after trauma but resolves within a month; major depressive disorder centers on persistent depressive mood and anhedonia not tied to trauma exposure alone; generalized anxiety disorder involves chronic, global worry that isn’t defined by a traumatic event.