The criterion a problem revisited: Controversies and challenges in defining and measuring psychological trauma
- 11 April 2007
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Traumatic Stress
- Vol. 20 (2), 107-121
- https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20210
Abstract
The Criterion A problem in the field of traumatic stress refers to the stressor criterion for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and involves a number of fundamental issues regarding the definition and measurement of psychological trauma. These issues first emerged with the introduction of PTSD as a diagnostic category in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition (DSM‐III; American Psychiatric Association, 1980) and continue to generate considerable controversy. In this article, the authors provide an update on the Criterion A problem, with particular emphasis on the evolution of the DSM definition of the stressor criterion and the ongoing debate regarding broad versus narrow conceptualizations of traumatic events.Keywords
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