Post-traumatic stress disorder and civil violence in Northern Ireland

The case records of 499 victims of civil and terrorist violence were examined, and the presence or absence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and associated features recorded. The results support the face, and predictive, validities of PTSD. 'Acting as if the event were reoccurring' and 'survivor guilt' seemed not to be characteristic symptoms, and the homogeneity of the emotional state in PTSD was questionable. Only marital disharmony and suicidal behaviour were associated complications. PTSD seemed to be found in a wide range of stressors, but the danger in over-reliance on results from combat veterans is emphasised.