Differential consideration
Acute stress disorder
F43.0Trauma & Stressor-Related
Why consider it
< 1 month
Criteria and features to review
- A. Exposure to actual/threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence (same exposure types as PTSD Criterion A)
- B. ≥9 of 14 symptoms from: intrusion, negative mood, dissociation, avoidance, arousal clusters
- C. Duration 3 days to 1 month after trauma exposure
- D. Clinically significant distress or impairment
Questions to clarify
- Which documented criteria and exclusions are met for each possibility?
- What timeline, course, and functional change best distinguishes the alternatives?
- Are substance, medication, medical, developmental, and contextual explanations adequately assessed?