DSM-5-TR distinguishes acute stress disorder from posttraumatic stress disorder based on which factor?

• A. Cause of the anxiety-linked symptoms
• B. Presence of one or more additional psychological disorders
• C. Intensity of the anxiety-linked symptoms
• D. Duration of anxiety symptoms

Answer: (D)

The main factor being tested is how long the symptoms last after the traumatic event. Acute Stress Disorder is diagnosed when symptoms arise within 3 days to 1 month after the trauma and cause significant distress or impairment. If those trauma-related symptoms persist beyond one month, the diagnosis is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. So the duration of symptoms is what differentiates the two disorders in DSM-5-TR. The other options aren’t the distinguishing criterion: exposure to trauma is needed for both, co-occurring disorders aren’t what separate them, and the intensity isn’t the defining cutoff—it's the time course.