The Buzz: The Accuracy of PTSD Diagnosis

How accurately can medical professionals distinguish post-traumatic stress disorder from related conditions? Is it better to be safe than sorry, or is overdiagnosis hurting patients rather than helping them? These are some questions that ScienceBlogger and freelance journalist David Dobbs addressed in his article in the April edition of Scientific American, bringing light to data that suggests PTSD may be grossly overdiagnosed in soldiers returning from combat. The article's publication has prompted thoughtful discussion with counter examples that led Dobbs to the conclusion that PTSD is likely both over and underdiagnosed.

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