Which symptom is characteristic of the long-term phase?

• A. Nightmares
• B. Somatic symptoms
• C. Depression
• D. Flashbacks

Answer: (D)

In the long-term phase, intrusive re-experiencing tends to be a defining feature, and flashbacks capture this most vividly. A flashback is an involuntary, immersive recreation of the traumatic event as if it is happening again in the present moment. It brings back the sights, sounds, and emotions with intense distress and physical reactions, and it can persist long after the original event. This ongoing, in-the-moment re-experiencing is what distinguishes chronic intrusion from other symptoms that can appear earlier or later or be less specifically tied to the long-term course. While nightmares and somatic or depressive symptoms can occur, they don’t convey that persistent, real-time re-experiencing in the same way flashbacks do.