Risk factors
Factors that can influence the risk of developing PTSD include experiences of:
- homelessness
- childhood trauma
- pre-existing psychiatric disorders
- family and domestic violence
Communities that are at greater risk include:
- people with refugee status
- LGBTIQ people
- certain occupations such as emergency services and first responders, and Armed forces and Veterans
Causes
PTSD is not caused by a single factor but by the complex interaction of factors such as:
- the traumatic experience(s)
- personal or family history of mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression
- temperament factors
- biological factors including the way the body response to stress through hormone or chemical effect
