EPIDEMIOLOGY

Prevalence

In the United States about 1 in 13 people of all age groups will develop PTSD each year. Overall, PTSD affects around 5% of the U.S. population, or about 13 million people. It is estimated that 37% of affected adults experience serious impairment, 33% have moderate impairment, and 30% have mild impairment.

Population subgroups in the United States have been found to have higher rates of PTSD compared to the general population. These groups include refugees from places where traumatic stress was endemic and Native Americans living on reservations. Studies have shown that Indigenous peoples have 1.4 times greater odds of lifetime PTSD compared with non-Indigenous people.

Lower prevalence rates have been found outside of North America. The World Health Organization found a lifetime prevalence of PTSD (proportion of a population that, at some point in their life, has experienced a particular risk factor) in upper-middle income and lower-middle income countries of 2.3% and 2.1%, respectively. A national sample of Australians found a lifetime prevalence of PTSD to be 1%. The reasons for this difference are not well understood (Sareen, 2023; The Recovery Village, 2023).

PTSD IN WOMEN VERSUS MEN

PTSD is far more common in women than in men. The prevalence for men is estimated to be 4%, while PTSD symptoms affect 8% of adult women. Men have been found to have experienced more traumatic events during their lifetimes than women, but PTSD symptoms among men are far less common than in women. This may be due in part to the type of traumatic events experienced. Women are more likely to experience sexual assault and trauma than men. Among rape victims, for example, 49% will develop PTSD (The Recovery Village, 2023).

PTSD AMONG ADOLESCENTS

An estimated 5% of adolescents experience PTSD, causing serious, moderate, or mild impairment. Studies in teens have found that 1.5% experience severe impairment. PTSD in adolescents is more common in later teen years. For teens ages 13–14 years, prevalence is 3.7%, and this increases to 7% in the 17–18 year age group (The Recovery Village, 2023).

PTSD IN MILITARY PERSONEL

PTSD statistics for the military show that an estimated 29% of combat veterans develop PTSD. However, PTSD in military personnel does not occur exclusively as a result of combat. PTSD is one of the most common diagnoses among those who experience sexual assault within the military ranks (The Recovery Village, 2023).

PTSD and Suicide

Living with PTSD may increase chances of suicide ideation or attempt. As many as 27% of those diagnosed with PTSD have attempted suicide. Experts estimate that 54% of suicides among people living with PTSD were directly related to PTSD and not co-occurring conditions.

U.S. veterans and active service members, as well as first responders—firefighters, police officers, and paramedics—have an increased incidence of suicide.

Among civilians, PTSD accounts for 3.5% of suicides in women and 0.6% of suicides in men (PsychCentral, 2023).