What condition may develop in individuals experiencing prolonged stress reactions after life-threatening events?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the condition that may develop in individuals experiencing prolonged stress reactions after life-threatening events. PTSD occurs when a person has been exposed to a traumatic event, such as combat, natural disasters, or severe accidents, and continues to experience symptoms long after the event has passed. These symptoms often include intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, heightened arousal, and avoidance behaviors.

Unlike Acute Stress Disorder, which presents similar symptoms but occurs immediately after the trauma and lasts for a shorter duration (less than a month), PTSD encompasses a longer-term coping mechanism that can persist for months or even years if not appropriately addressed. The other disorders listed, like Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder, also involve anxiety and mood symptoms, respectively, but they are not specifically tied to experiences of trauma in the same way PTSD is.