Traumatic events and post-traumatic stress disorder: a review from epidemiologic studies

The aim of this paper is to provide a review of the literature on the epide miology of trauma in the general population. Te lifetime frequency of expos ure to traumatic events, especially between the two gender, the lifetime pr evalence of PTSD, its chronicity, and the pre valence of theres psychiatric disorders were investigated. In recent estimates, traumatic events are com mon, and PTSD is more prevalent than previously believed, as this disorder is diagnosed in 5% of men and 10% to 12% of women over their lifetime, some times for several years. Data suggest that it's more difficult to recover f rom PTSD in a defined lapse of time, it this disorder as been present for a along period of time. Finally, about 80% of participants with PTSD are dia gnosed with concomitant psychiatric disorders.