ABSTRACT

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF TRAUMATIC EVENTS AND POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Many people experience traumatic events through their lifetime. After an exposure to a traumatic event, some individuals may develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies using community samples provide information on the epidemiology of traumatic events and PTSD in the general population. Using the current literature primarily on general population samples, this chapter reviews: (a) definitions of traumatic events, (b) methods of assessing traumatic events and PTSD in epidemiologic studies, (c) epidemiologic studies on traumatic events and PTSD, (d) epidemiology of traumatic events, (e) epidemiology of PTSD, and (f) mental and physical health comorbidities of PTSD.