Psychiatric and physical health ramifications of traumatic events in women

Abstract

All individuals are at some risk of experiencing a traumatic event and developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however some individuals are at higher risk due to individual and environmental factors. This critical literature review focuses on women, as they are twice as likely as men to develop PTSD in their lifetimes. Should a woman develop PTSD, she is then at risk of developing psychiatric and physical health comorbidities that can further impact her quality of life. The strengths and limitations of current studies regarding this topic are discussed as are directions for future research and issues for nurses treating traumatized individuals.