Rachel Kimerling1,2, Monica C Allen3,4, Laramie E Duncan5. 1. National Center for PTSD, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, USA. Rachel.kimerling@va.gov. 2. Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, USA. Rachel.kimerling@va.gov. 3. National Center for PTSD, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA, USA. 4. Pacific Graduate School of Psychology-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium, Palo Alto, CA, USA. 5. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review highlights recent research on sex- and gender-related factors in the prevalence, symptom expression, and treatment of PTSD. Further discoveries about the underlying mechanisms of sex and gender effects have the potential to shape innovative directions for research. RECENT FINDINGS: The prevalence of PTSD is substantially higher among women, but women show a modest advantage with respect to treatment response. There is evidence of greater heritability among females. Women are more likely to experience sexual and intimate violence, childhood trauma exposure, and repeated trauma exposures. Specific characteristics of social contexts act as gender-linked risks for PTSD. Among individuals diagnosed with PTSD, men and women are similar in phenotypic expression. Though research has yet to fully account for the factors that explain sex- and gender- related effects on PTSD, emerging research suggests these effects occur across multiple levels. Shared risk factors for trauma exposure and PTSD merit further investigation. Both social and biological contexts merit investigation to understand sex-linked differences in heritability.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review highlights recent research on sex- and gender-related factors in the prevalence, symptom expression, and treatment of PTSD. Further discoveries about the underlying mechanisms of sex and gender effects have the potential to shape innovative directions for research. RECENT FINDINGS: The prevalence of PTSD is substantially higher among women, but women show a modest advantage with respect to treatment response. There is evidence of greater heritability among females. Women are more likely to experience sexual and intimate violence, childhood trauma exposure, and repeated trauma exposures. Specific characteristics of social contexts act as gender-linked risks for PTSD. Among individuals diagnosed with PTSD, men and women are similar in phenotypic expression. Though research has yet to fully account for the factors that explain sex- and gender- related effects on PTSD, emerging research suggests these effects occur across multiple levels. Shared risk factors for trauma exposure and PTSD merit further investigation. Both social and biological contexts merit investigation to understand sex-linked differences in heritability.
Entities:
Keywords:
Gender; Genetic; PTSD; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Sex; Social context
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