Abstract
PTSD and related traumatic disorders have recently attracted wide social concern in Japan. Precipitated by the Japanese hostage crisis in Peru, the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry launched a research team, which in 2001 published a practical manual for trauma care for use in various types of trauma evoking incidents. The diagnosis of PTSD should be carefully done with reference to the diagnostic criteria such as DSM-IV, especially in court trials.
Resilience should be much emphasized. Most victims show acute stress reaction, some develop ASD and some of them, PTSD. In the long term, attention should be paid to social maladjustment including alcohol and drug abuse, and suicide. Stigmatization of the victims hampers social recovery.
