Acute Stress Disorder

Symptoms of acute stress disorder are very similar to those of PTSD, with some minor exceptions, and a diagnosis is given if symptoms are present between 3 days and 1 month following a traumatic event.

For some people, symptoms of acute stress disorder will decrease after a few weeks and will not persist. For others, the symptoms continue for longer than 1 month after the trauma and a diagnosis of PTSD may then be appropriate.