Posttraumatic stress disorder

Abstract
PREVIEW The terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11 had far-reaching effects as onlookers witnessed the violent death, threatened death, or serious injury of thousands. Such unprecedented violence can have severe psychological repercussions, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This article describes this complicated condition and focuses on a symptom-based, often multisystem approach to treatment of PTSD in the primary care setting.