Which condition involves experiencing an event involving trauma that leads to re-experiencing symptoms?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by symptoms that emerge following exposure to a traumatic event. Individuals with PTSD may experience re-experiencing symptoms, which can include intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and nightmares related to the traumatic event. These symptoms can make it feel as if the individual is reliving the trauma, leading to significant distress and impairment in daily functioning.

In PTSD, the onset of symptoms typically follows exposure to a direct trauma, such as a serious accident, violence, or natural disasters. This disorder encompasses a wide range of symptoms and typically requires specific criteria to be met, as outlined in diagnostic manuals such as the DSM-5. The emphasis on re-experiencing the traumatic event is a hallmark of PTSD, differentiating it from other mental health disorders.

In contrast, other conditions listed do not specifically involve the re-experiencing of trauma. Conversion disorder focuses on neurological symptoms that arise without a neurological cause, bipolar disorder is characterized by mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs, and social anxiety disorder pertains to extreme fear or anxiety in social situations. Each of these conditions has distinct features that do not align with the hallmark symptom of trauma re-experiencing found in PTSD.