Causes of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is caused by witnessing or being involved in a traumatic or frightening experience such as:

• Violence against you
• Rape or sexual assault
• A car accident
• War
• Natural disasters such as fire or earthquake
• Seeing someone die
• Traumatic childbirth

Not everybody who experiences something traumatic will develop PTSD. The risk of developing PTSD depends on how the experience affects you. PTSD is more likely if the event:

• Involves children
• Is unexpected
• Goes on for a long time
• Involved being trapped
• Causes many deaths
• Causes mutilation
• Is caused by people