Which disorder is defined as a disorder caused when persons have been exposed to a traumatic event in which they have experienced, witnessed, or been confronted with actual death, threatened death, serious injury, or the threat of injury to self or others?

• A. Plans Review
• B. PTO System
• C. Policy
• D. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Answer: (D)

Exposure to a traumatic event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury, or threat to self or others is the defining trigger for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD is diagnosed when someone experiences or witnesses such an event (or learns a close person was exposed) and then develops persistent symptoms across four domains: intrusive memories or flashbacks, avoidance of reminders, negative changes in thoughts or mood, and alterations in arousal or reactivity. These symptoms persist for more than a month and cause significant distress or impairment in daily functioning. This is why PTSD is the best answer—the description matches the disorder literally tied to traumatic exposure.

The other options don’t describe a mental health disorder related to trauma exposure; they refer to administrative or policy terms that aren’t diagnosing or describing PTSD.