Posttraumatic stress disorder: the psychoanalytic approach

The authors approach the posttraumatic stress disorder according to its importance within the epidemiologic studies and public health figures. A brief history on how the concepts of psychic trauma developed within psychoanalysis is presented. The importance given by Freud to traumatic events as a determinant of neurosis is revisited. Trauma is discussed as part of the internal world perspective and not as dependent upon the external events. The importance of the use of psychoanalytic techniques to treat some cases of PTSD is highlighted.

Psychoanalysis; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Trauma