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Since the 1800s, psychiatrists have recognized a psychic phenomenon in persons who have had difficulty dealing with the horrors of war. In recent years, this phenomenon received widespread attention after it was found to be a common problem in Vietnam War veterans. As Dr Modlin explains in this article, posttraumatic stress disorder can occur in almost anyone who has an unexpected accident or violent or life-threatening experience, such as rape or assault. Because symptoms may lead to permanent dysfunction, good prognosis depends on early evaluation and diagnosis.