Which set of symptoms is characteristic of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

• A. Intrusive memories, avoidance of reminders, negative changes in mood and cognition, and heightened arousal
• B. Delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech
• C. Recurrent panic attacks, fear of public places, and avoidance of social situations
• D. Persistent elevated mood, increased energy, and decreased need for sleep

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.
2. Step 2: Identify the core symptom clusters of PTSD, which typically include intrusive memories (such as flashbacks or nightmares), avoidance of reminders related to the trauma, negative changes in mood and cognition (like feelings of guilt or detachment), and heightened arousal (such as being easily startled or having difficulty sleeping).
3. Step 3: Compare the given symptom sets to these core PTSD symptoms. For example, delusions and hallucinations are more characteristic of psychotic disorders, not PTSD.
4. Step 4: Recognize that recurrent panic attacks and social avoidance are more aligned with anxiety disorders like panic disorder or social anxiety disorder, rather than PTSD.
5. Step 5: Note that persistent elevated mood, increased energy, and decreased need for sleep are symptoms typical of manic episodes in bipolar disorder, not PTSD.