The purpose of this article is to raise awareness of the issue of post-traumatic stress disorder among people with learning disabilities. The article summarizes literature reviewed from MEDLINE for the period between 1997 and 2001. People with learning disabilities may experience emotional traumas that impact upon their ability to enjoy life and maintain valued relationships, with much of this trauma manifesting itself through challenging behaviour. The authors discuss key points from the literature and suggest that post-traumatic stress syndrome in people with learning disabilities frequently goes unrecognized.
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