PTSD is a common and costly problem.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is estimated to impact 7-8% of the U.S. population, including one out of every ten women and 4% of men.* At-risk groups including first responders, inner city inhabitants, deployed military have reported prevalence rates of PTSD exceeding 50%. Traumatic events can include childhood abuse (physical and sexual), sexual assault, accidents, domestic violence, community violence, and combat among others. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including trauma, can have tremendous long-term and intergenerational impact on health, wellbeing, and opportunity. This does not take into account the dire impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which is associated with increased rates of PTSD.
Individuals with PTSD have significant comorbidities including psychiatric disorders (e.g., anxiety, depressive, and substance-use disorders), general medical conditions, and suicidal behavior. Research has indicated over 60% of patients with substance use disorder also meet criteria for PTSD. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to new incidence of PTSD, individuals reporting exacerbations of symptoms and challenges in accessing mental health treatment, resulting in higher nationwide rates of mental health-related emergency room visits, suicide attempts, and drug overdoses.
Violence in the household affects the whole household.
Domestic violence is a serious and common societal problem with complicated repercussions including mental health problems like PTSD. Domestic violence is inclusive of a range of traumatic experiences including physical, psychological, or sexual aggression. Survivors of domestic violence experience much higher rates of PTSD with estimates ranging between 31% to 84% in addition to increased rates of depression, suicide risk, and substance abuse. When there are children in the home, violence in the household is also associated with children experiencing abuse and high rates of psychological and behavioral problems. For parents with PTSD, PTSD can significantly impact parenting including increased parenting stress, lower parenting satisfaction, and less optimal parent-child relationships.