Trauma-related disorders in a low- to middle-income country: A four-year follow-up of outpatient trauma in Brazil

Abstract

Acute stress disorder (ASD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are developed from exposure to traumatic events including war, interpersonal violence and natural disasters. We investigated prevalence and trauma-related information in patients from an outpatient psychiatric unit in Brazil among 2014–2017. A prevalence of ASD/PTSD of 40.8% was found in 179 patients. Female, Caucasian, married, mostly educated during 10–12 years long and employed patients composed a main profile. The presence of any previous trauma in adulthood and childhood were related to ASD/PTSD with longer follow-up time. This study provides evidence of stress-related disorders in a heterogeneous environment.