Signs and symptoms

This category provides information about the signs and symptoms of PTSD. Common PTSD symptoms include unwanted and upsetting memories, nightmares, flashbacks,  emotional distress and physical reactivity after exposure to reminders, which leads to avoidance of these reminders. There may also be symptoms of poor sleep, negative thoughts and mood, depression, anxiety, dissociation, and anger. There may also be problems with cognition, including poor general cognition, memory, attention, executive functioning, social cognition, and difficulty processing new information. Click on the links or the tabs below to access the information, or browse via the drop-down menu to the left. There is also a search bar at the top of the left-hand panel.

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PTSD symptoms

General signs and symptoms

This category provides information about the general signs and symptoms of PTSD. Common PTSD symptoms include unwanted and upsetting memories, nightmares, flashbacks,  emotional distress and physical reactivity after exposure to reminders, which leads to avoidance of these reminders. There may also be symptoms of poor sleep, negative thoughts and mood, depression, anxiety, dissociation, and anger. There may also be problems with cognition, such as memory, attention, executive functioning, general cognition, social cognition, and difficulty processing new information. Click on the links or the tabs below to access all the information, or browse and search via the drop-down menu on the left. Image: tashatuvango - stock.adobe.com

Cognition

Some people with PTSD show cognitive alterations, which  may interfere with an individual’s ability to function. Cognitive alterations have been found in attention, memory, planning, and social cognition. Some symptoms of PTSD may contribute to poor cognition. Symptoms of intrusions and hyperarousal can result in poor sleep, which in turn affects cognition. Symptoms of avoidance can result in poor attention. PTSD is also characterized by alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, in neurometabolites, and in inflammatory response, which could all affect cognitive ability. Click on the links or the tabs below to access the information, or browse and search via the drop-down menu on the left. Image: freshidea - Fotolia - stock.adobe.com

NeuRA Libraries

Title Colour Legend:
Green - Topic summary is available.
Orange - Topic summary is being compiled.
Red - Topic summary has no current systematic review available.