A member asked:

Is it possible to develop ptsd by just reading violent books and watching violent media?

9 doctors weighed in across 3 answers
Dr. Bartholomew Vereb answered

Specializes in Child Psychiatry

Maybe: It's not very likely. But, everyone is different. Some people may be "sensitive" enough to do so.

Answered 7/20/2012

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Dr. Glen Elliott answered

Specializes in Child Psychiatry

Not likely: Reading books would would be a quite unlikely source of ptsd. Watching movies might, but probably only if the person was already sensitized to the type of trauma being shown. I had a patient sexually traumatized as a young child who had ptsd after watching silence of the lambs. I doubt strongly she would have had that reaction to reading the book.

Answered 4/16/2016

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Diagnostic Criteria: To actually meet diagnostic criteria for ptsd one has to have actually experienced a traumatic event. So after watching a violent movie while one could experience symptoms similar to posstrauma symptoms like anxiety, nightmares, hypervigilance, etc. One will likely not receive a formal diagnosis of ptsd. Therapy will help anyway even if the symptoms exist without a traumatic event. Feel better!

Answered 4/13/2016

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