Frequency of posttraumatic stress disorder among adolescents: Results of the Bremen Adolescent Study.

The frequency and comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) were assessed together with the resultant psychosocial impairment in 1035 adole scents between the ages of 12 and 17 years. Posttraumatic stress disorder a nd other psychiatric disorders were coded on the basis of the DSM-IV criter ia using the computerized personal interview of the Munich version of the C omposite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). A total of 17 (1.6%) ad olescents met the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD at some point in their life. Sli ghtly more girls than boys met the criteria for the disorder, whose frequen cy increased with age. The lifetime prevalence of traumatic events is much higher still 233 (22.5%) adolescents reported one or more traumatic events in their life. The types of traumatic events experienced by the greatest nu mber of adolescents were: physical attack, injury, and serious accident. Bo ys experienced significantly more traumatic events than did girls. The occu rrence of a traumatic event was mostly associated with hypervigilance and r ecurrent and intrusive psychological distress upon exposure to cues which s ymbolized the event itself or resembled an aspect thereof. PTSD occurred in highly frequent comorbidity with depressive disorders, somatoform disorder s, and substance abuse. Over 90% of those with posttraumatic stress disorde r were severely impaired in their daily life and activities. Despite the hi gh-grade psychosocial impairment, only a small number sought professional h elp.