title: Epidemiology of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder in Mexico.
abstract: Prevalence rates of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were estimated from a probability sample of 2,509 adults from 4 cities in Mexico. PTSD was assessed according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) criteria using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI; WHO, 1997). Lifetime prevalence of exposure and PTSD were 76% and 11.2%, respectively. Risk for PTSD was highest in Oaxaca (the poorest city), persons of lower socioeconomic status, and women. Conditional risk for PTSD was highest following sexual violence, but nonsexual violence and traumatic bereavement had greater overall impact because of their frequency. Of lifetime cases, 62% became chronic; only 42% received medical or professional care. The research demonstrates the importance of expanding the epidemiologic research base on trauma to include developing countries around the world.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School, Dartmouth College, White River Junction, VT, USA. fran.norris@dartmouth.edu
authors.forename: Fran H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.forename: Arthur D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Charlene K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Julia L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Perilla
authors.forename: Francisco Gutiérrez
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: José de Jesús Gutiérrez
authors.initials: Jde J
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*