[Post traumatic stress disorder among assault victims].
BACKGROUND
Urban violence is increasing in Metropolitan Santiago and assault victims may suffer from post traumatic stress disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical and evolutive profile of post traumatic stress disorders among assault victims.


METHODS
Retrospective review of medical records of assault victims with post traumatic stress disorder, that were attended at the Hospital del Trabajador between 1987 and 2000. The features of these patients were compared with other patients with post traumatic stress disorders not caused by assaults.


RESULTS
The records of 140 subjects (88 female) aged 34.9+/-10.9 years old, were reviewed. Seventy one percent of subjects worked as clerks and 59% were attended during the first month after the assault. Treatment with psychotherapy and psychotropic drugs lasted a median of 60 days and 62% was discharged before completing three months of treatment. These subjects used more antidepressants and had more physical lesions than subjects with a post traumatic stress disorder not caused by assaults.


CONCLUSIONS
Timely diagnosis and treatment of post traumatic stress disorders caused by assaults, results in a favorable outcome in two thirds of patients.
Carbonell
Carmen Gloria
CG
Servicio de Salud Mental, Hospital del Trabajador, Santiago. carmengcarbonell@yahoo.es
Carvajal
César
C
D000328:Adult; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
El trastorno por estrés postraumático: una consecuencia de los asaltos.