Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after Disaster and Mass-Casualty Incidents in Developed and Developing Countries: A...

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Psychiatry
• Disaster Medicine

Background:

• Disasters significantly impact global health, with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) being a major early consequence.
• Variations in national disaster response and health management influence PTSD prevalence.
• Understanding PTSD trends, especially post-COVID-19, is critical for public health preparedness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the prevalence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in developed versus developing countries.
• To analyze trends in PTSD prevalence following mass-casualty incidents, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To investigate potential differences in PTSD prevalence based on gender and country income level.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of English-language articles published from 2010 to 2024.
• Data sourced from Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar.
• Statistical analysis using random effects model, meta-regression, I² index, and Egger test (STATA v.17).

Main Results:

• 108 studies with 498,796 participants were included.
• Overall PTSD prevalence was approximately 20-40% across different time intervals post-disaster, with no significant difference between developed and developing countries.
• Slightly higher PTSD prevalence observed in men from developing countries, though overall gender differences were minimal.

Conclusions:

• Over one-fifth of disaster-exposed populations develop PTSD, irrespective of country development status.
• Prompt global diagnostic and therapeutic interventions are essential to address the widespread impact of PTSD.
• Further research may explore specific risk and protective factors influencing PTSD in diverse populations.