Can PTSD Develop Years After a Traumatic Event?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be as unique as the person who suffers from it. A mental health condition triggered by an upsetting event, PTSD sometimes emerges long after the event itself. It could be days, weeks, or even years.  

The specifics of PTSD vary widely between patients. It’s normal for anyone to need a period of adjustment after a traumatic event or experience. Coping might be difficult at first. Processing time and self-care usually combine to return a person to an adjusted state. 

Someone with PTSD may return to feelings and emotions that are as intense as when the initial event occurred, or they may simply never find a way past the initial intensity. 

Treating PTSD can be as challenging and complex as the condition itself. Traditionally treated with psychotherapy and antidepressant medications, PTSD has a high recurrence rate under this protocol. 

Ketamine therapy approaches brain chemistry from a different angle than conventional medications. It’s fast-acting and often works where other therapies fail. KETA Medical Center specializes in ketamine therapy for PTSD and other mental health conditions. Contact our offices to learn more. 

Can PTSD develop years after a traumatic event? 

The simple answer is yes, it can. Called delayed-onset PTSD, there’s no large volume of research on the condition, and subsequently, it’s not regularly diagnosed. About 25% of PTSD cases could possibly result from delayed onset. 

The window for delayed-onset PTSD diagnosis is six months or longer after a traumatic event. A PTSD diagnosis meets a number of condition criteria, and these are initially absent immediately after the traumatic event, passing a threshold at some point, even years, in the future. 

While there’s no consensus on why delayed-onset PTSD occurs, there are theories that seem to be gaining support through research. 

Sub-threshold symptoms

The risk of delayed-onset PTSD seems highest in patients who display some of the symptoms of PTSD but not enough to meet the criteria for diagnosis. Delayed-onset PTSD rarely appears in a person who previously had no symptoms. 

Additional stress triggers

Another theory considers the idea of a stress load in a patient’s life. While they may be able to manage the pressures of a traumatic event at and after the time of the experience, further unrelated stresses in their life may “use up” their coping abilities. The early traumatic event is no longer manageable, and delayed-onset PTSD emerges. 

Ketamine therapy for PTSD

Traditional antidepressants tend to work through common chemical pathways. For example, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have often been the first pharmaceutical choice for anxiety, depression, and PTSD, typically in combination with talk therapy. SSRIs can take weeks before they produce a noticeable effect. 

Ketamine works on glutamate, producing a surge of this neurotransmitter that boosts the development of new neural connections. Unlike SSRIs, ketamine produces fast results. You may notice a difference before you leave the office. 

Often delivered through intravenous low-dose infusion, ketamine produces few of the side effects of other antidepressant medications. 

Find out more about ketamine for PTSD by contacting the nearest office of KETA Medical Center. Book an appointment by phone or online today.