Prevalence of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Psychology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) is a significant mental health concern requiring accurate prevalence data.
• Understanding global and population-specific prevalence is crucial for targeted interventions and resource allocation.
• Existing research lacks a comprehensive synthesis of CPTSD prevalence, particularly concerning gender differences.

Approach:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of 167 studies involving 138,681 participants.
• Searched five major databases for peer-reviewed articles reporting CPTSD prevalence using validated ICD-11 assessments.
• Employed a random-effects model to estimate global and subgroup pooled prevalence, including gender-specific analyses.

Key Points:

• Global pooled prevalence of CPTSD is 6.2%, with significant variations across populations.
• Highest prevalence observed in clinical (44.7%), domestic violence/sexual abuse survivor (40.0%), and military (36.4%) samples.
• Lowest prevalence found in emergency services (7.4%); no significant gender differences in CPTSD prevalence were detected.

Conclusions:

• CPTSD prevalence highlights the profound impact of trauma, necessitating integrated treatment approaches for CPTSD and comorbidities.
• Factors such as support systems, trauma severity, and cultural contexts likely influence prevalence rates in different populations.
• Standardized data collection, gender-specific reporting, and recognition of CPTSD in clinical settings are essential for improved mental healthcare outcomes.