A term defined by the American Psychiatric Association as an event involving death or serious injury with intense fear, helplessness, or horror is called what?

• A. Traumatic Stressors
• B. Posttraumatic Growth
• C. Acute Stress Reaction
• D. Grievance Event

Answer: (A)

The main concept being tested is how the APA names the kind of event that can trigger trauma. The term that fits describes the event itself—an exposure to death or serious injury that is accompanied by intense fear, helplessness, or horror—what the APA calls a traumatic stressor. This labels the incident rather than the reaction, growth, or disorder that may follow. Posttraumatic Growth refers to positive changes after trauma, not the event itself. An Acute Stress Reaction describes the immediate, short-term response to trauma, not the event label. A Grievance Event isn’t a recognized clinical term in this context. So, Traumatic Stressors is the correct designation.