A "traumatic event" refers to a very distressing or shocking experience that can cause severe emotional or psychological harm to a person. Full definition
This is the first manual developed specifically for the symptoms that follow from a variety of traumatic events in the preschool period. (ecmhc.org)
Many people experience traumatic events in life, e.g. robbery, warfare, a serious accident or sexual assault. (sciencedaily.com)
Now, researchers have detailed evidence that a person's risk of developing the disorder — which results from experiencing traumatic events like rape and war — is inherited. (discovermagazine.com)