Lucinda was a victim of a school shooting. She was not directly involved but she was in the school at the time of the shooting and witnessed panic among the students and staff. Lucinda was able to relax and recover over the summer, but as the time neared for going back to school, Lucinda was unable to sleep and started having distressing nightmares. What would be the MOST likely diagnosis for Lucinda?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lucinda's symptoms, including distressing nightmares and significant stress as the time approaches to return to the scene of the trauma (school), are indicative of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD can develop after a person is exposed to a traumatic event, even if they were not directly harmed. The timeline also fits; PTSD symptoms must persist for more than a month, and Lucinda's symptoms are occurring as the new school year approaches, presumably more than a month after the incident.

Lucinda Was a Victim of a School Shooting