A 29-year-old nurse presents to the PMHNP for evaluation after a traumatic event. Two weeks ago, she was attacked by a patient on the behavioral unit where she works. She says she is having flashbacks about the event and keeps wondering "what could I have done to prevent it?" She has had several panic attacks since the incident, and she is to the point now where she is considering quitting nursing. She says, "I guess I am too weak to be a nurse if I can't handle one attack." What is her most likely diagnosis?

Choice A reason: PTSD requires symptoms to persist for at least 1 month post-trauma. Since this event occurred only two weeks ago, a PTSD diagnosis is premature. Choice B reason: Acute stress disorder occurs within 3 days to 4 weeks following a traumatic event and includes symptoms such as flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and panic. This timing and symptomatology match this patient’s presentation. Choice C reason: Adjustment disorder involves emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to a stressor but is generally less severe and does not typically include panic attacks or flashbacks. Choice D reason: Dissociative identity disorder is a chronic condition characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identity states and memory gaps, unrelated to a single traumatic event, making it inappropriate here.