In designing the diagnostic criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in DSM-5, considerable effort was devoted to wording these criteria so that the diagnosis would apply only to individuals who develop symptoms (e.g., nightmares, intrusive recollections) after experiencing extreme stress or trauma (see Case 4 “DSM-5 Diagnosis”). When these events involve stressors such as sexual assault or combat, it is clear the “traumatic event” criterion for PTSD has been met.  However, for some stressors, this judgement is not straightforward (e.g., running over the beloved family pet with the car or viewing graphic news footage of a brutal war or crime).  Based on the diagnostic criteria listed in the Case 4 “DSM-5 Diagnosis” section, what types of stressful events do you believe quality and do not qualify for the PTSD diagnosis?  Do you think these criteria should be revised to allow persons who suffered less extreme stressors to be given the PTSD diagnosis if they are experiencing all the other symptoms?  What would the ramifications (e.g., legal, insurance) be if the criteria were relaxed to include less severe stressors?
Although it was once assumed that males were much more likely to perpetuate acts of marital violence than females, some research indicates this is the not the case. The rates of such acts are roughly equivalent across sexes when any form of aggression is considered; in some culture, women evidence a higher rate of aggression.  What factors do you believe account for this finding?  What variables do you think most strongly predict acts of domestic violence?  Do you think these risk factors differ for males and females?  Why or why not?
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) has been used as a legal defense in murder trials (i.e., the person committed the murder under an “alter” personality and was arguably unaware of the crime, therefore not responsible for it). Do you think DID can be a credible and viable defense in some legal cases?  If someone, in fact, had DID at the time they committed a serious crime, should they be held accountable for those actions?  Do you think it is possible for some defendants to convincingly fake the symptoms of DID?