PTSD Increases Hospitalization Rates in Urban Poor
Along with depression, Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common occurrence for those who have experienced military combat or have been sexually assaulted, but researchers at Boston University are reporting that they think PTSD is not always realized and oftentimes mistaken for depression.
The hospital found that 22 percent of the patients at their primary care clinic were found to have PTSD. They had also been hospitalized twice as much as the other 78 percent of patients who did not have PTSD.
To address this issue, they conducted a study consisting of 592 patients. Eight percent were Hispanic, 19 percent were white and 59 percent of the participants were black. Only 3 percent had served in military combat and less than 25 percent stated that they had been sexually assaulted.
The study found that nearly 50 percent of the participants had been witness to a murder or very traumatic injury. Over 40 percent had been seriously assaulted or attacked and nearly 40 percent had been endangered with a weapon at least once. Over 30 percent had been involved in an accident that jeopardized their life. Altogether, each participant reported 2.7 traumatic events in their lifetime.
In addition, the study found that half of the volunteers made less than $20,000 a year; PTSD was considerably more in the poorest patients. Drug and alcohol dependence six months prior to the study was also higher in those with PTSD.
Not surprisingly, 50 percent of those diagnosed with PTSD during the study had depression in their medical records, some misdiagnosed, but only 11 percent had PTSD.
The researchers are hoping that this will alert the medical community to the problem and allow patients to get the treatments they need. PTSD is known to be alleviated with cognitive and behavioral therapies, as well as medication.
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The hospital found that 22 percent of the patients at their primary care clinic were found to have PTSD. They had also been hospitalized twice as much as the other 78 percent of patients who did not have PTSD.
To address this issue, they conducted a study consisting of 592 patients. Eight percent were Hispanic, 19 percent were white and 59 percent of the participants were black. Only 3 percent had served in military combat and less than 25 percent stated that they had been sexually assaulted.
The study found that nearly 50 percent of the participants had been witness to a murder or very traumatic injury. Over 40 percent had been seriously assaulted or attacked and nearly 40 percent had been endangered with a weapon at least once. Over 30 percent had been involved in an accident that jeopardized their life. Altogether, each participant reported 2.7 traumatic events in their lifetime.
In addition, the study found that half of the volunteers made less than $20,000 a year; PTSD was considerably more in the poorest patients. Drug and alcohol dependence six months prior to the study was also higher in those with PTSD.
Not surprisingly, 50 percent of those diagnosed with PTSD during the study had depression in their medical records, some misdiagnosed, but only 11 percent had PTSD.
The researchers are hoping that this will alert the medical community to the problem and allow patients to get the treatments they need. PTSD is known to be alleviated with cognitive and behavioral therapies, as well as medication.
Return to:
Other Posts and Pages
Disability Determination for Social Security Disability Benefits
The Social Security Disability Five Step Sequential Evaluation Process
Eligibility for disability benefits
Tips for filing an appeal at the reconsideration level
What does Social Security consider to be a disabling impairment or condition ?
Disability Determination Process
Social Security Disability Applications, Hepatitis C
Social Security Disability Attorney Fee
Social Security Disability list of impairments
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