Home ❯ Previous trauma exposure

Previous trauma exposure

How are previous trauma exposures related to PTSD?

Personal characteristics can influence one’s degree of risk for developing PTSD following a new trauma exposure. This includes having previous trauma exposures. How personal characteristics affect the development of PTSD would be influenced by other personal characteristics, as well as differences in the trauma experience itself.

What is the evidence regarding having multiple trauma exposures and risk for PTSD?

Moderate to high quality evidence found small to medium-sized associations between having a history of trauma or a history of PTSD and increased PTSD symptoms following childbirth. High quality evidence found a small association between having a trauma history and having PTSD symptoms in people exposed to workplace secondary trauma. Moderate quality evidence found a small association between having prior trauma exposure and increased risk of PTSD following exposure to an earthquake. Moderate to high quality evidence found a small association between increased negative life events and more PTSD symptoms following any trauma in children and adolescents.

August 2021

Image: ©allexxandarx – stock.adobe.com

Last updated at: 1:25 am, 12th October 2021
To view documentation related to this topic download the files below
Fact Sheet Technical Commentary

NeuRA Libraries

Title Colour Legend:
Green - Topic summary is available.
Orange - Topic summary is being compiled.
Red - Topic summary has no current systematic review available.