An overview of posttraumatic stress disorder in African Americans.
While several studies have found high rates of trauma exposure there is limited information on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its relationship to depression in the African American population. The prevalence and/or expression of psychiatric disorders can differ between racial/ethnic groups. The authors review literature addressing trauma exposure, prevalence, and expression of PTSD in the African American population. Risk factors that may be of specific significance to the development of PTSD in African Americans are also reviewed. Additionally, treatment issues and potential directions for future research of PTSD in the African American population are discussed.
Alim
Tanya N
TN
Department of Psychiatry, Howard University College of Medicine, 2041 Georgia Ave., Washington, DC 20060, USA. talim@howard.edu
Charney
Dennis S
DS
Mellman
Thomas A
TA
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004358:Drug Therapy; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011613:Psychotherapy; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology