Conclusions
Men with PTSD are significantly more likely than women with PTSD to suffer with symptoms of irritability (p < 0.05) and to use alcohol to excess (p < 0.05). The diagnosis of PTSD tends to follow an acute stress reaction or disorder. Symptoms of PTSD have an early onset (although this is not exclusively so) and tend to persist for many months. The case has been made for restricting the diagnosis to the most frequent symptoms and for including some often overlooked symptoms in the diagnostic guidelines, namely low mood, mood lability and reduced sex drive.
Address for correspondence: Dr Ben Green, Consultant Psychiatrist and Honorary Senior Lecturer, University of Liverpool Department of Psychiatry, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, L69 3GA, UK. Tel: +44 (0)151 706 4149; Fax: +44 (0)151706 3765; email: bengreen@liverpool.ac.uk
Curr Med Res Opin. 2003;19(3) © 2003 Librapharm Limited
Comments