Addressing Diversity in PTSD Treatment: Disparities in Treatment Engagement and Outcome Among Patients of Color

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent mental disorder characterized by difficulty recovering from exposure to a traumatic event. The prevalence of PTSD varies by race/ethnicity, with studies in US samples indicating higher prevalence and lower treatment use among some racial and ethnic minority groups compared with Whites. Clarifying the extent to which race and ethnicity influence PTSD treatment outcomes is crucial to delivering treatments that are equitably effective and culturally relevant. There are few rigorous studies of racial/ethnic differences in PTSD treatment-related outcomes, making it difficult to draw conclusions. Evidence suggests that, compared with Whites, there may be lower treatment initiation and retention among Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino/a individuals. The bulk of evidence does not support racial/ethnic differences in treatment-related symptom reduction, though findings are contradictory. Cultural adaptations of evidence-based treatments for PTSD warrant further research. There is a critical need for research that is designed to answer questions about racial/ethnic differences and the experiences of People of Color in PTSD treatment. In clinical settings, widely implementing culturally relevant assessment and treatment, enhancing cultural competence of clinicians, and increasing representation of clinicians of Color are crucial steps toward improving PTSD treatment for People of Color.