Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - Statistics & Facts

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Although PTSD is most often associated with war veterans and experiencing combat, it can develop in anyone that has been exposed to a traumatic event, such as a sexual assault, a natural disaster, or a serious injury. It is estimated that almost half of all rape victims will develop PTSD because of this traumatic experience, while 32 percent of those who have been physically assaulted or severely beaten may develop PTSD. PTSD does not only develop as a result of physical trauma but can also be caused by psychological trauma, with about 14 percent of those who experience an unexpected or sudden death of a friend or family member developing symptoms.

Prevalence and symptoms

Although many people experience some form of trauma in their lifetime, only a small percentage of them will develop PTSD, and it is still unclear why some people develop PTSD and others do not. Nevertheless, the National Center for PTSD, part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, estimates that between seven and eight percent of the U.S. population will have PTSD at some point in their lifetime and around eight million adults are suffering from PTSD in a given year. PTSD can develop at any age but is more common among women than men. Symptoms may differ from person to person, but in general, there are four main types: intrusive memories or reliving the trauma; avoiding thinking or talking about the experience or avoiding any people, places, or activities that act as a reminder; negative changes in thinking and mood such as feelings of guilt and hopelessness; and changes in physical and emotional reactions like difficulty sleeping and feeling on edge.

PTSD among veterans

PTSD is a common symptom among war veterans, given the prolonged stress of warfare and the extreme violence often experienced by soldiers. Before the term post-traumatic stress disorder came into use in the 1970s, mainly due to the large number of Vietnam war veterans returning to the U.S. with symptoms, PTSD was known among soldiers of the world wars as “shell shock” or “combat neurosis.” A survey from 2020 found that around 83 percent of U.S. veterans and active service respondents have experienced PTSD as a result of military service after 9/11. Furthermore, the survey found that PTSD was the second-most reported severe mental injury sustained during service among these veterans and active service respondents, behind sleep problems. PTSD among military veterans is recognized as a serious problem by veterans and the general public alike, with a large majority of people in the U.S. believing the government should do more to help military veterans suffering from PTSD.

Treatment

The most popular form of treatment for PTSD is psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy. Forms of psychotherapy that have been shown to be most effective in treating PTSD include prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Medications, such as anti-depressants used to treat anxiety and depression, may also be used to treat PTSD, usually in combination with psychotherapy.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Feb 28, 2024

Key insights

Share of rape victims who develop PTSD
49%
Share of U.S. veteran and active service members of the WWP experiencing PTSD during military service after 9/11
76%
Percentage of U.S. adults aged 18-25 years with any mental illness in the past year
36.2%
Get more insights

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