PTSD appears to be relatively common among survivors of violent crime, particularly rape victims. In its more serious forms, PTSD is a chronic and disabling psychiatric disorder associated with high co-morbidity and impairment of functioning. The author reviews PTSD following violence and aggression, beginning with a description of the clinical characteristics and diagnostic criteria. A multi-faceted approach to the assessment of PTSD is described that is designed to improve diagnostic accuracy in psycho-legal settings. Psychological treatment of PTSD is discussed in the context of the available outcome literature. Finally, the issue of prevention and early intervention in traumatic stress is addressed. The author recommends further research to clarify the relationship between active and passive avoidance of stress, the development of more objective diagnostic tools to assess PTSD, and the development of an integrated bio-psycho-social model of PTSD. 95 references and 1 table