Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder : Global Perspectives from the WHO World Mental Health Surveys

Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have devastating consequences for population health. This book presents the first systematic findings from a unique study of over 70,000 participants on the magnitude, variability, personal and public health burden that trauma and PTSD cause in a variety of high, middle and low income settings from across the globe.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic, under-detected and under-treated psychiatric consequence of trauma that is often linked to new-onset medical and psychological conditions, impaired quality of life and long-term disability across the globe. This book is the first systematic analysis of the rates, risk factors, consequences and global burden of trauma and PTSD across a variety of wealthy and underdeveloped settings. An analysis of a global survey conducted by the World Health Organization and featuring findings from over 70,000 participants around the world, this text demonstrates a unique perspective on the prevalence of exposure to trauma and PTSD and the impact it has on population health. The findings inside this text underscore the urgent need for policymakers and healthcare providers to prioritize interventions aimed at reducing the burden of trauma, PTSD and its consequences.