A woman experiencing ongoing distress and flashbacks six months after being mugged is likely diagnosed with which condition?

The condition described in the scenario aligns with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This diagnosis is specifically characterized by the persistence of symptoms such as intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, and emotional distress related to a traumatic event, occurring for more than one month. In this case, the woman is experiencing ongoing distress and flashbacks six months following her mugging, indicating that her symptoms have lasted beyond the one-month threshold required for an acute stress disorder diagnosis and have reached the criteria for PTSD.

Acute stress disorder typically presents immediately after the trauma and lasts from three days to one month. If symptoms persist beyond this duration, the diagnosis may shift to PTSD. While anxiety disorders can encompass a range of conditions including generalized anxiety or panic disorders, they do not specifically account for the trauma-related criteria seen in PTSD. Major depressive disorder focuses primarily on mood disturbances, which may or may not include aspects of trauma and can occur independently of a traumatic event. Thus, the woman's symptom profile most clearly fits the criteria for PTSD.