[Psychiatric disorders in war and other catastrophic circumstances-- posttraumatic stress disorder]

The paper presents mental disorders occurring in people as a consequence of facing extraordinary situations of mental stress which surpass common human experience and are very frequent in war circumstances. Since 1980 all similar conditions have been classified as a single entity called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The disorder may occur immediately after the traumatic experience (acute form), or several months and even years later (chronic, delayed form). The etiology and therapy of the PTSD is discussed.