Which of the following is NOT a PTSD symptom commonly associated with sexual violence?

• A. Increased appetite
• B. Reexperiencing trauma
• C. Social withdrawal
• D. Nightmares/difficulty sleeping

Answer: (A)

PTSD after sexual violence typically shows up in clusters: intrusion (reexperiencing the trauma), avoidance (including social withdrawal), negative mood/cognition changes, and arousal (such as sleep disturbances). Reexperiencing trauma is a classic intrusion symptom, often including distressing memories or flashbacks. Nightmares or difficulty sleeping fit squarely into arousal and sleep disturbance, another common PTSD feature. Social withdrawal reflects avoidance, where a person distance themselves from reminders of the trauma. Increased appetite, on the other hand, is not a standard PTSD symptom—while some individuals may experience appetite changes due to stress or coexisting conditions, it’s not among the commonly described PTSD symptom clusters. So, increased appetite is the one not typically associated with PTSD.