QE84

ICD-11 MMS 2026-01

Acute stress reaction

Description

Acute stress reaction refers to the development of transient emotional, somatic, cognitive, or behavioural symptoms as a result of exposure to an event or situation (either short- or long-lasting) of an extremely threatening or horrific nature (e.g., natural or human-made disasters, combat, serious accidents, sexual violence, assault). Symptoms may include autonomic signs of anxiety (e.g., tachycardia, sweating, flushing), being in a daze, confusion, sadness, anxiety, anger, despair, overactivity, inactivity, social withdrawal, or stupor. The response to the stressor is considered to be normal given the severity of the stressor, and usually begins to subside within a few days after the event or following removal from the threatening situation.

Index terms

  • Acute stress reaction
  • acute crisis reaction
  • acute reaction to stress
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  • acute situational disorder
  • acute situational disturbance
  • acute situational reaction
  • acute stress disorder
  • brief reactive dissociative disorder
  • crisis state
  • psychic shock
  • shellshock
  • stupor reaction to exceptional stress
  • Acute reaction to stress, agitated state
  • Acute reaction to stress, emotional crisis
  • panic reaction to exceptional stress
  • Exhaustion delirium
  • Exhaustion psychosis
  • Fugue reaction to exceptional stress
  • Combat fatigue

Inclusions

  • acute crisis reaction
  • acute reaction to stress

Excludes

  • 6B40 – Post traumatic stress disorder

Exclusions from above levels

  • http://id.who.int/icd/entity/991786158 – Disorders specifically associated with stress

Sibling codes

  • QE80 – Victim of crime or terrorism
  • QE81 – Exposure to disaster, war or other hostilities
  • QE82 – Personal history of maltreatment
  • QE83 – Personal frightening experience in childhood
  • QE8Y – Other specified problems associated with harmful or traumatic events
  • QE8Z – Problems associated with harmful or traumatic events, unspecified

Foundation entity

Acute stress reaction – http://id.who.int/icd/entity/505909942

Part of: 24: Factors influencing health status or contact with health services