post-traumatic
UK: /ˌpəʊst.trɔːˈmæt.ɪk/ | US: /ˌpoʊst.trɑːˈmæt̬.ɪk/
adj. relating to or occurring after a traumatic experience
adj. (in medicine/psychology) describing persistent physical or psychological effects following trauma
The word combines the Latin-derived prefix "post-" (meaning "after") with "traumatic," which stems from the Greek "trauma" (wound/injury). "Trauma" entered English via Late Latin and originally referred to physical wounds. By the 19th century, it expanded to include psychological shock. The compound "post-traumatic" emerged in medical contexts (early 20th century) to describe lasting conditions like PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), logically linking temporal sequence ("post-") to the aftermath of trauma.
Soldiers often experience post-traumatic stress disorder after combat.
The clinic specializes in post-traumatic rehabilitation for accident survivors.
Her post-traumatic symptoms included insomnia and flashbacks.
Early intervention can reduce post-traumatic complications.
The study focuses on post-traumatic brain injury recovery.