Gender Differences in the Development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms among Hospitalized Patient with Physical Injuries

Abstract

Background: Physical injuries can have prominent consequences, affecting not only physical health but also psychological well-being, potentially leading to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Moreover, gender plays an important role in the development and manifestation of PTSD symptoms in hospitalized patients.

Objective: To observe the development of PTSD in hospitalized patients for physical injuries lasting more than a month in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad Pakistan.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, during September 2022 to March 2023, and included 261 participants. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Urdu-translated version of the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5), which aligns with the diagnostic criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).

Results: The current study revealed that 100% of both male and female hospitalized patients exhibited substantial PTSD symptoms. There were 64.3% male patients categorized as severe while 53.8% females had severe PTSD symptoms and revealed a statistically significant association (p <0.05) of severity of PTSD symptoms and the extent of physical injuries in male patients. The prevalence of severe PTSD symptoms were highest among those with orthopedic trauma (76.0%), while 59.1% female patients of same category showed severe PTSD symptoms.

Conclusion: The study concluded that both male and female hospitalized patients with physical injuries show significant PTSD symptoms, with male showing a higher severity.