post traumatic stress disorder

post-traumatic stress disorder A psychological disorder that develops in some individuals who have had major traumatic experiences, such as those who have experienced serious accidents, survived or witnessed violent crimes, or been through wars. Abbreviated PTSD. Typically a person with PTSD is emotionally numb at first but later has symptoms that may include depression, excessive irritability, guilt for having survived if others were injured or died, recurrent nightmares, flashbacks to the traumatic scene, and overreactions to sudden noises. PTSD was known as shell shock during World War I and battle fatigue during World War II.