Almost 1 in 10 Canadians have PTSD at some point

Almost 1 in 10 Cdns have post-traumatic stress disorder at some point: study
3 hours ago

TORONTO — Canadians are most accustomed to hearing about post-traumatic stress disorder among returning soldiers, but a newly published study suggests that almost one in 10 civilians meet the criteria for PTSD at some point in their lifetime.

Researchers at McMaster University have released the findings of a national survey on the subject in the latest issue of the quarterly journal CNS Neuroscience and Therapeutics.

They conducted a telephone survey of 2,991 people, aged 18 and over from across Canada in July and August 2002, and found that the prevalence rate of lifetime PTSD was estimated at 9.2 per cent. Based on the responses, they estimate that at any given time, 2.4 per cent of the population is experiencing the disorder.

Altogether, 76.1 per cent of respondents reported exposure to at least one event sufficient to cause PTSD, such as the unexpected death of a loved one, sexual assault or seeing someone badly injured or killed.

"Most people who experience a trauma may experience symptoms, but they usually resolve on their own," said researcher Michael Van Ameringen, co-director of McMaster's Anxiety Disorders Clinic and associate professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences.

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