Risk Factors for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Mexican Psychiatric Trauma Survivors

Abstract

Background: There is extensive evidence linking specific sociodemographic and clinical factors to increased vulnerability for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, most studies have focused on community samples, and little is known about how such factorsshape PTSD risk in clinical psychiatric settings in Latin America, where trauma exposure is highly prevalent. The present study addresses these gaps by examining sociodemographic characteristics and specific types of traumatic events linked to PTSD diagnosis among individuals receiving care at a tertiary mental health facility in Mexico City, Mexico.

Methods: A cross-sectional, observational design was employed, enrolling 160 psychiatric patients. Participants were assessed for exposure to potentially traumatic events using the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5). Probable PTSD was initially identified with the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), followed by diagnostic confirmation using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5). Sociodemographic data, including age, sex, and educational attainment, were also collected. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify PTSD predictors, with a significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: The frequency of PTSD in the sample was 31.9%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that sexual aggression was the strongest independent predictor of PTSD (odds ratio (OR) = 38.49; 95% confidence interval (CI): 10.59–139.95; p < 0.001). Other significant predictors included being female (OR = 8.09; 95% CI: 1.60–40.86; p < 0.001) and over 30 years old (OR = 2.86; 95% CI: 1.13–7.24; p < 0.05). The model demonstrated good overall fit (Pearson χ² p = 0.673) and explained a moderate proportion of the variance (Nagelkerke R² = 0.550). 

Conclusions: Sexual aggression, female sex, and older age were significantly associated with a PTSD diagnosis among psychiatric trauma survivors. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating traumainformed care principles and systematic screening for sexual violence into mental health settings to improve diagnostic accuracy and optimize interventions for this population.