This study investigated whether diagnosis and treatment of breast canc
er produced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adult women. One
hundred sixty women with early stage node-negative breast cancer compl
eted self-report questionnaires and underwent a full diagnostic assess
ment (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R). PTSD symptoms were
common; however, only 3% of the women interviewed met stringent crite
ria for cancer-related PTSD in the 4-12 months following the completio
n of their medical treatment. Thus, breast cancer produced considerabl
e distress, but low rates of PTSD, and may not fit well as a Criterion
A stressor event for PTSD. Caution is urged for an assumption of a PT
SD diagnosis based on self-reported symptoms.