A Public Health Perspective of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

Trauma exposure is one of the most important and prevalent risk factors for mental and physical ill-health. Prolonged or excessive stress exposure increases the risk of a wide variety of mental and physical symptoms, resulting in a condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The diagnosis might be challenging due to the complex pathophysiology and co-existence with other mental disorders. The prime factor for PTSD development is exposure to a stressor, which variably, along with peritraumatic conditions, affects disease progression and severity. Additionally, many factors are thought to influence the response to the stressor, and hence reshape the natural history and course of the disease. With sufficient knowledge about the disease, preventive and intervenient methods can be implemented to improve the quality of life of the patients and to limit both the medical and economic burden of the disease. This literature review provides a highlight of up-to-date literature on traumatic stress, with a focus on causes or triggers of stress, factors that influence response to stress, disease burden, and the application of the social-ecological public health model of disease prevention. In addition, it addresses therapeutic aspects, ethnic differences in traumatic stress, and future perspectives, including potential biomarkers.

Machine Learning Models Based on Hippocampal T2-Weighted-Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery Radiomics for Diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

“…Third, the differences in age, gender, physical exertion, and educational level between PTSD and non-PTSD cases included in this study were not statistically signi cant. Nevertheless, for each individual, many of these characteristics or factors and their interactions will be important in the occurrence and development of PTSD [53] .…”

Rates of Trauma Exposure, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depressive, and Anxiety Symptoms in Primary School Children: Findings Six Months before Covid-19 Pandemic

“…Children who suffer from trauma exposure may experience PTSD, emotional distress, terror, helplessness, or severe anxiety (Jowf et al, 2022;Stein et al, 2014). Therefore, some children might have traumatic stress even by only having a dysfunctional home life, such as staying with people who are drug dependent, mentally or physically ill, alcoholic, or having witnessed a family member being arrested.…”

To Predict, Prevent, and Manage Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Review of Pathophysiology, Treatment, and Biomarkers

“…A social-ecological model as a framework for prevention is proposed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which emphasises risk factors at multiple levels, including the individual level, relationship level, community level, and societal level [ 122 ] ( Figure 3 ). Risk factors on the individual level are about personal characteristics, which are the model’s core.…”