title: Prevalence and risk factors of posttraumatic stress disorder in older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has scarcely been researched in the elderly. There is no population-based information on prevalence and risk factors in older persons. Patients with PTSD are often not recognized or incorrectly diagnosed. As the disorder has great implications for the quality of life, a correct diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Increased knowledge on vulnerability factors for PTSD can facilitate diagnostic procedures and health management in the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  PTSD cases were found following a two-phase sampling procedure: a random selection of 1,721 subjects were screened and in 422 subjects a psychiatric diagnostic interview was administered. Prevalence of PTSD and subthreshold PTSD were calculated. Vulnerability factors regarding demographics, physical health, personality, social factors, recent distress and adverse events in early childhood were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  6-month prevalence of PTSD and of subthreshold PTSD was 0.9 and 13.1%, respectively. The strongest vulnerability factors for both PTSD and subthreshold PTSD were neuroticism and adverse events in early childhood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first population-based study on PTSD in older persons. With a 6-month prevalence of almost 1% the disease is not rare. Comparisons with younger populations suggest some accumulation of cases among older people reflecting the chronic risk factors, which are found in this study: neuroticism and adverse events in early childhood.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. WH.van-Zelst.emgo@med.vu.nl
authors.forename: Willeke H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: van Zelst
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Beurs
authors.forename: Aartjan T F
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Beekman
authors.forename: Dorly J H
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Deeg
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Dyck
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology