Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that develops after exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violence.

Symptoms fall into four clusters: intrusive memories, nightmares or flashbacks; avoidance of reminders; negative changes in mood and thinking such as guilt, detachment or persistent fear; and heightened arousal including irritability, hypervigilance, startle and sleep problems. Symptoms must last more than a month and cause meaningful impairment. The disorder affects veterans, first responders, survivors of assault and disasters, and anyone exposed to trauma.

Diagnosis is made through a clinical interview, often with structured tools such as the PTSD Checklist or the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. Trauma-focused psychotherapies and certain prescription medications are the established approaches. Cannabinoids have been studied for this condition, and reviews describe the evidence as limited and inconclusive with no approved use.