Psychiatrists in Indian-administered Kashmir say there has been a sharp decline in the number of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cases, thanks to an improvement in the security situation.

The Kashmir valley witnessed an epidemic of stress-related disorders after the outbreak of armed conflict two decades ago.

A survey conducted six years ago showed that 17% of the population in the valley suffered from PTSD.

But the number has steadily gone down since. India and Pakistan, which both claim divided Kashmir in its entirety, declared a ceasefire in 2004.

Renowned psychiatrist, Dr Arshid Hussain, says he used to see on average 25 to 40 cases of PTSD at the Psychiatric Diseases Hospital in Srinagar daily.

"Today we see hardly one fresh case of PTSD a day."

Dr Hussain says this fall is commensurate with a reduction in the level of violence in the state.