The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) possibly inadequatly represents the symptomatology of severely traumatized patients. In this article this is pointed out from the historic perspective.

Also in the more recent literature there are several propositions for a diagnostic category besides PTSD.

Attention is placed at the recently developed concept Disorders of Extreme Stress N.O.S. (DES NOS) or Complex PTSD. In a small investigation structured interviews (like SCID-DES NOS) have been taken off at Dutch war veterans. The results are discussed.