**1. Introduction**

24 Post Traumatic Stress Disorders in a Global Context

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This chapter seeks to provide a better understanding of combat related posttraumatic stress disorder. Some of the information presented in this chapter may apply broadly to all populations affected by posttraumatic stress disorder, but should not be used as a primary reference for the disorder as a whole. This chapter will first provide a brief history of the diagnosis and discuss the current diagnostic criteria including potential changes that have been suggested for the Diagnostic Statistical Manual – V. Next, the chapter will present the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder and explain potential gender differences in soldiers affected by the disorder. Theories of how an individual obtains posttraumatic stress disorder will be discussed and current and novel treatments will be explained. A brief discussion on traumatic brain injury will also be presented, as it is a common comorbidity of combat related posttraumatic stress disorder.
