Risk factors
Factors that can influence the risk of developing PTSD include experiences of:
- Homelessness
- Childhood trauma
- Pre-existing psychiatric disorders
- Family and domestic violence
Communities at greater risk include:
- People with refugee status
- LGBTIQ people
- Or are in certain occupations:
- Emergency services and first responders
- Armed forces and Veterans
Causes
PTSD is not caused by a single factor but by the complex interaction of factors such as:
- The traumatic experience(s)
- Personal or family history of mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression
- Temperament factors
- Biological factors including the way the body responds to stress through hormone or chemical effect
