Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has many causes: serious accidents, sexual or physical assault, abuse, death, serious health problems, inherited mental health problems, and childbirth or its complications. (nhs.uk, 2018). Mr. L.L.’s PTSD was likely caused by the traumatic effects of torture, war and conflict.
For a person to be diagnosed with PTSD, the following minimum criteria must be met: exposure to a traumatic event, symptoms of avoidance and aggression, and symptoms of adverse changes in reactivity and mood. Due to the trauma, the person must have been under a lot of stress for over a month.