Posttraumatic stress disorder in DSM-III-R, DSM-IV, and ICD-10: A comparison and evaluation of the significance of the respective diagnostic criteria

In connection with the publication of DSM-IV, it is of interest to compare the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as defined in DSM-IV with its definition in DSM-III-R and in ICD-10. Although there are great similarities in the different diagnostic systems, there are also important differences, particularly between the DSM systems and the ICD system, which does not attach the same emphasis to avoidance and the hyperarousal as do the DSM systems.