Question:medium
A 21-year-old female presents with amnesia of events following her father's death in a road traffic accident. Symptoms have persisted for 2 weeks, and she experiences flashbacks. What is the most probable diagnosis?
A 21-year-old female presents with amnesia of events following her father's death in a road traffic accident. Symptoms have persisted for 2 weeks, and she experiences flashbacks. What is the most probable diagnosis?
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Trauma symptoms for less than 1 month = acute stress disorder; symptoms for more than 1 month = PTSD.
Updated On: May 14, 2026
- Dissociative disorder
- Major depression
- PTSD
- Acute stress disorder
Show Solution
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The patient has experienced a severe trauma (death of a parent in an RTA) and is presenting with intrusive symptoms (flashbacks) and dissociative symptoms (amnesia) with a duration of 2 weeks.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD): This diagnosis is made when a patient develops characteristic symptoms (intrusion, negative mood, dissociation, avoidance, arousal) following exposure to a traumatic event.
The Duration Rule: The symptoms of ASD must last for a minimum of 3 days and a maximum of 1 month. Since the symptoms in this patient have persisted for 2 weeks, ASD is the correct diagnosis.
PTSD vs. ASD: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) shares many of the same symptoms but requires the symptoms to persist for more than 1 month. If this patient still had these symptoms in 5 weeks, the diagnosis would shift to PTSD.
Clinical Presentation: Flashbacks are a form of re-experiencing the trauma. Amnesia for parts of the event is a common dissociative symptom. The combination of these after a sudden loss is typical for an acute stress reaction.
Management: Brief psychotherapy and supportive counseling are preferred. Pharmacotherapy (like SSRIs) is usually reserved if symptoms progress to PTSD.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Because the symptoms occur within one month of the trauma and have lasted for 14 days, the diagnosis is Acute Stress Disorder.
The patient has experienced a severe trauma (death of a parent in an RTA) and is presenting with intrusive symptoms (flashbacks) and dissociative symptoms (amnesia) with a duration of 2 weeks.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD): This diagnosis is made when a patient develops characteristic symptoms (intrusion, negative mood, dissociation, avoidance, arousal) following exposure to a traumatic event.
The Duration Rule: The symptoms of ASD must last for a minimum of 3 days and a maximum of 1 month. Since the symptoms in this patient have persisted for 2 weeks, ASD is the correct diagnosis.
PTSD vs. ASD: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) shares many of the same symptoms but requires the symptoms to persist for more than 1 month. If this patient still had these symptoms in 5 weeks, the diagnosis would shift to PTSD.
Clinical Presentation: Flashbacks are a form of re-experiencing the trauma. Amnesia for parts of the event is a common dissociative symptom. The combination of these after a sudden loss is typical for an acute stress reaction.
Management: Brief psychotherapy and supportive counseling are preferred. Pharmacotherapy (like SSRIs) is usually reserved if symptoms progress to PTSD.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Because the symptoms occur within one month of the trauma and have lasted for 14 days, the diagnosis is Acute Stress Disorder.
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