A student who has experienced trauma and displays difficulty sleeping and nightmares is most likely suffering from which condition?

The situation described aligns with the symptoms commonly associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD often arises after an individual experiences or witnesses a traumatic event, leading to several psychological symptoms, including difficulty sleeping, nightmares, flashbacks, and heightened anxiety or arousal responses. Such symptoms reflect the ongoing impact of the trauma on the individual’s mental state and functioning.

In contrast, schizophrenia is characterized by a range of symptoms including delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized thinking, which do not specifically relate to trauma or its aftermath. Obsessive-compulsive disorder involves persistent, intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors or mental acts, which are also distinct from the trauma responses seen in PTSD. Oppositional defiant disorder is characterized by a pattern of angry, irritable mood, argumentative or defiant behavior, and vindictiveness, but it does not typically involve the trauma-related symptoms noted in the question.

Thus, the symptoms of difficulty sleeping and nightmares after a traumatic experience are key indicators of PTSD, making it the most appropriate diagnosis in this context.