General public definition
- Psychological trauma, or psychologically traumatic injury, is currently not listed as a diagnosis in the DSM-5-TR or ICD-11.
- Psychological trauma describes the psychological problems that may result after exposure to a psychologically traumatic event.
- Psychological trauma is an individual experience that may not present the same way for every person.
- See also the “Mental disorder,” “Mental health injury / Psychological injury,” “Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD),” and “Acute stress disorder (ASD)” sections.
Academic definition
- Psychological trauma, or psychologically traumatic injury, is currently not listed as a diagnosis in the DSM-5-TR or ICD-11.
- Psychological trauma is caused by exposure to a psychologically traumatic event.22,59
- The manifestations of the psychological injury, psychological trauma, or psychologically traumatic injury may be consistent with one or more mental disorders, but may also be consistent with mental health conditions for which there are no diagnostic categories in the DSM or ICD.
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