Medical Minute W/ The UNLV School of Nursing

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Here's today's Medical Minute from the School of Nursing at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. June is PTSD Awareness Month. PTSD means post-traumatic stress disorder, a mental disorder that usually develops after experiencing, witnessing, or learning about a traumatic event. People with PTSD may have symptoms such as disturbing thoughts and feelings, flashbacks, nightmares, difficulty concentrating, attempts to avoid cues in the environment that seem to be related to the original traumatic event, and uncontrollable thoughts about the traumatic event. We've come a long way to recognize PTSD as a treatable mental disorder. Diagnosing PTSD is now less stigmatized while treatments and services become more accessible. While 70% of Americans will experience a traumatic event, only about 7% will develop PTSD in their lifetimes. However, people with PTSD can have serious symptoms and distress, including higher risk for suicide and intentional self-harm. It is important to spread awareness of PTSD symptoms and their impact on people's lives, as well as open discussions about the diagnosis, treatment, and care for those who are suffering with PTSD. Today's Medical Minute comes from the School of Nursing at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Transcribed with Cockatoo