Core feature of trauma- and stressor-related disorders?

• A. Disorders caused by exposure to a traumatic or stressful event; core features include intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and arousal.
• B. Delusions and hallucinations
• C. Mood swings and mania
• D. Cognitive deficits only

Answer: (A)

Trauma- and stressor-related disorders are defined by exposure to a traumatic or stressful event and a characteristic pattern of symptoms that cluster into intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and arousal. Intrusion involves re-experiencing the event through distressing memories or nightmares; avoidance means steering away from reminders of the event; negative alterations in cognition and mood cover changes like pessimism, detachment, and guilt; and arousal includes staying constantly on edge, irritability, or sleep problems. This combination after a traumatic exposure is what sets these disorders apart from other conditions. Delusions and hallucinations point to psychotic disorders, mood swings and mania align with mood disorders, and cognitive deficits alone don’t capture the trauma-related symptom pattern.