Chapter 34 - Sex and Gender Differences in Trauma Victims Presenting for Treatment

Abstract

Traumatized patients often present to primary care and other health care services. This chapter covers gender differences from exposure and response to traumatic events to the development and treatment of trauma-related disorders. Gender affects the type of traumatic events to which men and women are exposed as well as the brain areas and systems involved in the acute stress response. Women are significantly more likely to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and other internalizing trauma-related disorders, whereas men are more likely to develop externalizing disorders. Trauma-related disorders can be treated with either pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy, and there appear to be some gender differences in the outcomes associated with both approaches, although most studies are subjected to severe limitations and findings are inconclusive. This chapter aims to help raise awareness for the potential consequences of traumatic exposure so that traumatized patients may be identified as early as possible, before traumatic sequelae becomes chronic.