Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder among urban residents

J Nerv Ment Dis. 2011 Jul;199(7):436-9. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0b013e3182214154.

Abstract

Previous studies indicate a high risk of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among women and low-income, urban-residing African-Americans. This study examined PTSD symptoms among urban-residing, socioeconomically diverse, working-age African-Americans and whites. The participants completed the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version. Of the 2104 participants, 268 (12.7%) were screened positive for PTSD symptoms. Women (13.8%) were more likely than men (11.3%), white participants (13.8%) were more likely than African-Americans (11.9%), and younger participants (16.1%) were more likely than older participants (10.2%) to screen positive for PTSD symptoms. A significant interaction (p = 0.05) revealed that white women living below the 125% poverty level were most likely to report PTSD symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of PTSD screening in low-income urban neighborhoods.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Baltimore / epidemiology
  • Black or African American / psychology
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data
  • Checklist
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Life Change Events
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Middle Aged
  • Poverty / psychology
  • Poverty / statistics & numerical data
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / etiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data*
  • White People / psychology
  • White People / statistics & numerical data