Posttraumatic stress disorder: The burden to the individual and to society

Background: Little is known about the total population prevalence and socie tal costs of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); this report reviews rele vant literature on these topics. Method: A literature search of computerize d databases for published reports on trauma and PTSD was conducted. This li terature was reviewed to find data an general population exposure to trauma , conditional risk of PTSD among those exposed to trauma both in focused sa mples of trauma Victims and in general population samples, and the adverse consequences of PTSD. Results: PTSD was found to be a commonly occurring di sorder that often has a duration of many years and is frequently associated with exposure to multiple traumas. The impairment associated with PTSD in U.S. samples, where the majority of research on these consequences has been carried out, is comparable to, or greater than, that of other seriously im pairing mental disorders. Risk of suicide attempts is particularly high amo ng people with PTSD. Available evidence suggests that the prevalence of PTS D and the adverse emotional and psychological consequences of PTSD are much greater in the many countries around the world that are in the midst of ar med conflicts involving political, racial, or ethnic violence. Conclusion: PTSD is a highly prevalent anti impairing condition. Only a minority of peo ple with PTSD obtain treatment. Early and aggressive outreach to treat peop le with PTSD could help reduce the enormous societal costs of this disorder .