A nurse is admitting a client who has posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to a community mental health facility. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse expect when completing the admission assessment?

A reason: Decreased startle response to loud noises. Clients with PTSD typically have an increased startle response due to hyperarousal. A decreased startle response would not be expected in PTSD. B reason: Reports uninterrupted sleep of 10 to 12 hours each night. Clients with PTSD often experience sleep disturbances, including nightmares and insomnia. Reporting uninterrupted sleep is not characteristic of PTSD. C reason: Reluctance to discuss the event that precipitated the distress. Clients with PTSD commonly avoid discussing the traumatic event as a way to avoid triggering distressing memories and emotions. This avoidance behavior is a key symptom of PTSD. D reason: Reports feelings of acute distress that began 1 to 2 weeks ago. PTSD symptoms usually develop within three months of the traumatic event but can also emerge years later. Acute distress that began 1 to 2 weeks ago may not align with the typical onset pattern of PTSD.