PTSD in older people
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Prevalence in elderly people

What is prevalence of PTSD in elderly people?

Prevalence represents the overall proportion of individuals in a population who have the disorder of interest. It is different from incidence, which represents only the new cases that have developed over a particular time period. Point prevalence is the proportion of individuals who have the disorder at a given point in time. Period prevalence is the proportion of individuals who have the disorder over specific time periods. Lifetime prevalence is the proportion of individuals who have ever had the disorder. Lifetime morbid risk also includes those who had the disorder but were deceased at the time of the survey.

What is the evidence for the prevalence of PTSD in elderly people?

Moderate quality evidence finds the 12-month prevalence rate of PTSD in older adults (≥65 years) is 1.56%, and the lifetime prevalence rate of PTSD in older adults is 2.66%. Lifetime prevalence rates of PTSD are nearly twice as high in women than in men.

The prevalence rate of PTSD in older prisoners (≥50 years) is 6.2%. Prevalence of PTSD in older US veterans (≥65 years) is 8.4%. The prevalence of PTSD in older adults (≥65 years) after a fall is 27.5%, which represents a small, significant increase in risk of PTSD when compared to older people with no previous fall.

August 2021

Image: ©Dmitry Berkut – stock.adobe.com

Last updated at: 1:02 pm, 5th April 2022
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Fact Sheet Technical Commentary
Tags:  Elderly people

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