Which factor is identified as increasing risk for PTSD after a disaster?

• A. When human intent caused the disaster
• B. Lack of social support
• C. Immediate return to normal life
• D. No injuries

Answer: (A)

Disaster-related PTSD risk is driven by both how the event unfolds and what happens afterward. When harm is caused by human intent, the trauma is experienced as purposeful and intentional. That heightens threat perception, shatters beliefs about safety and trust, and can fuel moral distress, anger, and ongoing vigilance. This combination tends to produce more intrusive memories, avoidance, and hyperarousal, making PTSD more likely after an intentional disaster.

Lack of social support is also a known risk factor, but the option about deliberate human-caused harm specifically points to the disaster’s nature and its impact on threat appraisal, which is why it best identifies increased risk. Returning to normal life quickly is generally protective, and not being injured usually means less exposure to traumatic stimuli, not more.