PTSD: Causes and Risk Factors

One of the defining characteristics of PTSD is that the initiation event or sequence of events involves the actual or perceived threat of serious injury or death to the person or others. The event can either be witnessed or the individual could've been involved with the event. Some examples of traumatic events are, but not limited to:

• Rape

• War

• Natural disasters

• Death of a family member

• Major life threatening accidents (ie car crash)

The individual becomes severely affected by this initiating event long after the event has happened.