Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious and disabling disorder that is commonly seen in primary care settings. Primary care practitioners can be instrumental in recognising, diagnosing, and treating PTSD. Unless trauma histories are specifically obtained, the disorder is easily missed because of the substantial symptom overlap with depression and other anxiety disorders, the significant medical and psychiatric comorbidity, and the stigma, shame and secrecy that are often associated with the diagnosis.