Post-traumatic stress disorder

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What is post-traumatic stress disorder?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition triggered by a traumatic event, is characterized by many symptoms including flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and hypervigilance. PTSD is also sometimes called Post-traumatic stress (PTS) or Post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI).



Common symptoms reported by people with post-traumatic stress disorder

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
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Treatments taken by people for post-traumatic stress disorder

Treatment name(s)
Type
How many have tried
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Zoloft)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
8,857
Treatment name(s)

(Effexor XR)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
5,164
Type
Psychotherapy
How many have tried
7,091
Treatment name(s)

(Paxil)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
3,863
Treatment name(s)

(Prozac)
Type
Prescription Drug
How many have tried
6,370
Type
Psychotherapy
How many have tried
1,963
Treatment name(s)

(Depression Skills Group Therapy)
Type
Psychotherapy
How many have tried
5,787
Type
Psychotherapy
How many have tried
2,744
Treatment name(s)

(Fibro Support Group)
Type
Psychotherapy
How many have tried
3,160

Data from patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
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Compare treatments taken by people with post-traumatic stress disorder

Treatment name(s)
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment name(s)

(Zoloft)
Perceived effectiveness
for post-traumatic stress disorder (8 evaluations)
Side effects
chills decreased appetite 7 more
Total evaluations
10
Treatment name(s)

(Effexor XR)
Perceived effectiveness
for post-traumatic stress disorder (4 evaluations)
Side effects
dizziness feeling hot/overheating 5 more
Total evaluations
4
Perceived effectiveness
for post-traumatic stress disorder (7 evaluations)
Side effects
obsessive thinking
Total evaluations
10
Treatment name(s)

(Paxil)
Perceived effectiveness
for post-traumatic stress disorder (6 evaluations)
Side effects
decreased sex drive (libido) mood swings 2 more
Total evaluations
6
Treatment name(s)

(Prozac)
Perceived effectiveness
for post-traumatic stress disorder (5 evaluations)
Side effects
Total evaluations
5
Perceived effectiveness
for post-traumatic stress disorder (7 evaluations)
Side effects
difficulty processing things at times increased anxiety 1 more
Total evaluations
7
Treatment name(s)

(Depression Skills Group Therapy)
Perceived effectiveness
for post-traumatic stress disorder (3 evaluations)
Side effects
overwhelming emotions
Total evaluations
3
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Treatment name(s)

(Fibro Support Group)
Perceived effectiveness
for post-traumatic stress disorder (1 evaluation)
Side effects
Total evaluations
1
  • Major
  • Moderate
  • Slight
  • None
  • Can't tell
  • Severe
  • Moderate
  • Mild
  • None

Data from patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.
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Who has post-traumatic stress disorder on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 47 new patients joined this month
  • 18,933 say PTSD is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 51
20s 1,124
30s 5,191
40s 8,517
50s 8,814
60s 5,553
70+ 1,939
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 4,026
20-29 years 3,133
30-39 years 2,063
40-49 years 1,324
50-59 years 447
60-69 years 87
70+ years 15

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 9,875
Female 21,420

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 14,013
Not Diagnosed 1,804

These charts show data from PTSD patients who have completed their condition history
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