Sex Differences in PTSD

Christiansen, Dorte Mølgaard; Elklit, Ask

doi:10.5772/28363

Cited by 46 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 106 publications

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“…A large proportion of participants scored above the threshold for PTSD (17.8%), with a significantly higher prevalence among females than males (24.3 vs. 10.4%, respectively). These findings are consistent with findings from other studies conducted in similar settings (Christiansen and Elklit 2012;Farhood 2014;Farhood and Dimassi 2012;Farhood et al 2006;Farhood, Dimassi, and Strauss 2013;Luxton et al 2010;Olff et al 2007). Thus, it is worth scrutinizing these gender differences by not only focusing on Bnumbers^but also by targeting the question of why these differences exist.…”

Section: Gender Differences In Ptsd Prevalencesupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Most of the current literature has investigated gender differences in PTSD in terms of its prevalence (Christiansen and Elklit 2012;Olff 2017). However, gender differences in terms of trauma types, PTSD symptomatology, or PTSD risk factors have been less extensively studied (Christiansen and Elklit 2012). In the current study, we targeted this gap in the literature by examining gender differences in experienced trauma types, clusters of symptoms of trauma, and risk factors associated with PTSD.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Exposure to traumatic events, however, does not necessarily lead to PTSD (Kessler et al 1995;Perrin et al 2014;Simmons 2007). Interestingly, females were found to be twice as likely (Christiansen and Elklit 2012; The online version of the original article which can be found at https://doi. org/10.1007/s00737-018-0849-7 is not the updated version.…”

Section: Post-traumatic Stress Disordermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies suggested that this gender disparity may arise from differences in associated risk factors that were existent prior to, during, and after exposure to the traumatic event (Brewin et al 2000;Christiansen and Elklit 2012), often leading to worsened mental health outcomes among females (Farhood et al 2013). These findings should optimally be explored by policy makers and intervention planners to target physical, social, and psychological obstacles that women tend to face in times of severe stress and desolation.…”

Section: Risk Factor Profile Of Ptsd In Womenmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Correction to: PTSD and gender: could gender differences in war trauma types, symptom clusters and risk factors predict gender differences in PTSD prevalence?

Farhood

Fares

Hamady

2018

Arch Womens Ment Health

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The female-male ratio in the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is approximately 2:1. Gender differences in experienced trauma types, PTSD symptom clusters, and PTSD risk factors are unclear. We aimed to address this gap using a cross-sectional design. A sample of 991 civilians (522 women, 469 men) from South Lebanon was randomly selected in 2007, after the 2006 war. Trauma types were grouped into disaster and accident, loss, chronic disease, non-malignant disease, and violence. PTSD symptom clusters involved re-experiencing, avoidance, negative cognitions and mood, and arousal. These were assessed using parts I and IVof the Arabic version of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ). Risk factors were assessed using data from a social support and life events questionnaire in multiple regression models. Females were twice as likely as males to score above PTSD threshold (24.3 vs. 10.4%, p ˂ 0.001). Total scores on all trauma types were similar across genders. Females scored higher on all symptom clusters (p < 0.001). Social support, social life events, witnessed traumas, and domestic violence significantly were associated with PTSD in both genders. Social support, social life events, witnessed traumas and domestic violence were significantly associated with PTSD in both genders. Conversely, gender difference in experienced traumas was not statistically significant. These findings accentuate the need to re-consider the role of gender in the assessment and treatment of PTSD.

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Section: Gender Differences In Ptsd Prevalencesupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Post-traumatic Stress Disordermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Risk Factor Profile Of Ptsd In Womenmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Correction to: PTSD and gender: could gender differences in war trauma types, symptom clusters and risk factors predict gender differences in PTSD prevalence?

Farhood

Fares

Hamady

2018

Arch Womens Ment Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Though structural and socialization factors contribute to greater rates and prevalence of PTSD in women compared to men [7], it is unlikely that these factors act in isolation. Instead, individual reaction to and processing of a traumatic experience may depend as much on the type and duration of trauma and the environment or context in which the trauma is enacted as the underlying biology of the individual’s stress reaction, genotype, or hormonal state.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Does Sex Have to Do with It? The Role of Sex as a Biological Variable in the Development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Kornfield

Hantsoo

Epperson

2018

Curr Psychiatry Rep

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While others have suggested that trauma type or acute emotional reaction are responsible for women's disproportionate risk to PTSD, neither of these explanations fully accounts for the sex differences in PTSD. Sex differences in brain neurocircuitry, anatomy, and neurobiological processes, such as those involved in learning and memory, are discussed as they have been implicated in risk and resilience for the development of PTSD. Gonadal and stress hormones have been found to modulate sex differences in the neurocircuitry and neurochemistry underlying fear learning and extinction. Preclinical research has not consistently controlled for hormonal and reproductive status of rodents nor have clinical studies consistently examined these factors as potential moderators of risk for PTSD. Sex as a biological variable (SABV) should be considered, in addition to the endocrine and reproductive status of participants, in all stress physiology and PTSD research.

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Association of War-Related and Gender-Based Violence With Mental Health States of Yazidi Women

2020

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IMPORTANCE Yazidi women in northern Iraq have experienced severe human rights violations through attacks by the so-called Islamic State group, with severe consequences for their health. However, no studies to date have investigated how war-related and gender-based violence, including partner violence, are associated with mental health disorders in this population. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the associations between Yazidi women's experiences of violence (ie, war violence, partner violence, enslavement) and their mental health. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cross-sectional study of 326 women was conducted in camps for displaced persons in the Kurdistan region of Iraq between January and July 2017. Participants were married women from the Yazidi population in northern Iraq who were affected by Islamic State attacks. Participants were selected via household-randomized sampling. Data analysis was conducted from December 2018 to September 2019. EXPOSURES Experiences of enslavement, war-related events, and intimate partner violence were measured with event checklists. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression levels were measured using culturally validated instruments. RESULTS A total of 326 women (mean [SD] age, 34.3 [12.9] years) participated in the study. Almost all participants reported the experience of at least 1 war-related violent event (325 [99.7%]), 54 (16.6%) reported a history of abduction and sexual slavery, and 215 (66.0%) reported the experience of at least 1 type of intimate partner violence in the past year. There were no significant differences between women who did and did not experience abduction regarding exposure to intimate partner violence. Rates of PTSD and depression symptoms were high among the whole sample, and women who experienced abduction reported significantly higher levels of psychopathology than those who did not (mean [SD] PTSD score: 61.48 [12.38] vs 47.

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Sex Differences in PTSD

Cited by 46 publications

References 106 publications

Correction to: PTSD and gender: could gender differences in war trauma types, symptom clusters and risk factors predict gender differences in PTSD prevalence?

Correction to: PTSD and gender: could gender differences in war trauma types, symptom clusters and risk factors predict gender differences in PTSD prevalence?

What Does Sex Have to Do with It? The Role of Sex as a Biological Variable in the Development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Association of War-Related and Gender-Based Violence With Mental Health States of Yazidi Women

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