PTSD Statistics and Research
Gender and Other Factors Known to Affect Post Traumatic Stress
Jul 28, 2009
In today’s understanding of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD,) people who have been in a war, or who have witnessed or otherwise been exposed to an event that caused them trauma, may go on to develop PTSD. The history of the understanding of PTSD has evolved over time as more research studies have been conducted.
Gender and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Gender seems to heavily influence PTSD. Women are two to three times more susceptible to PTSD than men. A few studies seem to support the theory that women are more prone to PTSD, including one compelling study involving people who were exposed to the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City. Forty-five percent of the women vs. twenty-three percent of the men had PTSD as a result of the bombing.
PTSD Statistics Regarding the Type of Trauma
Studies show that people who have had more than one traumatic experience are more likely to develop PTSD. Victims of natural disasters or accidents are not as likely to develop PTSD as those who have been intentionally harmed by another, such as in the case of rape or assault. People who feel partly responsible for the traumatic event have higher rates of PTSD than those who do not feel guilty.
Studies of Heredity and PTSD
Studies on identical twins indicate there is a hereditary factor involved in the development of PTSD. In cases where only one of the twins has been exposed to war and has developed PTSD, researchers found that both members of the twin pair had certain cognitive anomalies.
These anomalies were not present in war veterans who did not develop PTSD, but they were present in the twins who had not been exposed to war. This indicates that certain genetic attributes can predispose an individual to PTSD.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Anxiety and Depression
It can be difficult to distinguish one disorder from another. People with depression or anxiety sometimes fit the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis. Sometimes a diagnosis of PTSD can morph, and symptoms become more in line with a diagnosis of Major Depression. Traumatic events can predispose an individual to depression and anxiety, rather than PTSD.
Just because a person has been to war or experienced a traumatic event does not necessarily mean that he or she will develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. There seem to be many more factors involved in the development of PTSD than has been previously understood. As PTSD research studies continue, the definition of the disorder will continue to evolve. Meanwhile, effective treatment for PTSD is available.
Read more about Combat PTSD and Iraq War Soldiers here.
Source:
- "Rethinking postraumatic stress disorder" in Harvard Medical School's Harvard Mental Health Letter. Volume 24, Number 2, August 2007.
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