OBJECTIVE: In this study, our objective was to report a patient with an apparent diagnosis of delayed-onset posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the different dilemmas faced during the diagnostic process. METHOD: Case report. RESULTS: A female patient, aged 34, married, housewife, presented PTSD 25 years after the collapse of her home during a flooding. The condition emerged after press reports of similar events associated with the death of dozens of victims in a nearby town. CONCLUSION: Our case suggests that patients may develop conditions that bear resemblance to late-onset PTSD after re-exposure to events previously devoid of emotional impact.
Post-traumatic stress disorder; psychopathology; clinical aspects