A prevalência ao longo da vida relatada da exposição a experiências potencialmente traumáticas varia consideravelmente entre os países e, dentro dos países, entre certos grupos. A exposição às experiências potencialmente traumáticas foi relatada por 24% dos indivíduos em uma amostra na Alemanha, 63.6% em uma amostra de 6 países europeus, 75% em uma amostra da Austrália e 80.7% em uma amostra da Holanda.[3]Darves-Bornoz JM, Alonso J, de Girolamo G, et al. Main traumatic events in Europe: PTSD in the European Study of the Epidemiology of Mental Disorders Survey. J Trauma Stress. 2008 Oct;21(5):455-62.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18956444?tool=bestpractice.com
[4]De Vries GJ, Olff, M. The lifetime prevalence of traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder in the Netherlands. J Trauma Stress. 2009 Aug;22(4):259-67.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19645050?tool=bestpractice.com
[5]Hauffa R, Rief W, Brähler E, et al. Lifetime traumatic experiences and posttraumatic stress disorder in the German population: results of a representative population survey. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2011 Dec;199(12):934-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22134451?tool=bestpractice.com
[6]Mills KL, McFarlane AC, Slade T, et al. Assessing the prevalence of trauma exposure in epidemiological surveys. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2011 May;45(5):407-15.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21189046?tool=bestpractice.com
As frequências de exposição mais elevadas foram relatadas em ambientes urbanos e em locais onde aconteceram desastres naturais.[7]Breslau N, Kessler RC, Chilcoat HD, et al. Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder in the community: the 1996 Detroit Area Survey of Trauma. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1998 Jul;55(7):626-32.
http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/204066
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9672053?tool=bestpractice.com
[8]Galea S, Brewin CR, Gruber M, et al. Exposure to hurricane-related stressors and mental illness after Hurricane Katrina. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007 Dec;64(12):1427-34.
http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/482512
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18056551?tool=bestpractice.com
Alguns grupos apresentam maior probabilidade de serem expostos a EPTs: esses grupos incluem militares, profissionais de serviços de emergência, policiais e refugiados.
As estimativas de prevalência ao longo da vida do TEPT também variam entre os países, com relatos de 6.8% nos EUA, 2.9% na Alemanha, 1.9% entre 6 países europeus e 7.4% na Holanda.[3]Darves-Bornoz JM, Alonso J, de Girolamo G, et al. Main traumatic events in Europe: PTSD in the European Study of the Epidemiology of Mental Disorders Survey. J Trauma Stress. 2008 Oct;21(5):455-62.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18956444?tool=bestpractice.com
[4]De Vries GJ, Olff, M. The lifetime prevalence of traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder in the Netherlands. J Trauma Stress. 2009 Aug;22(4):259-67.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19645050?tool=bestpractice.com
[5]Hauffa R, Rief W, Brähler E, et al. Lifetime traumatic experiences and posttraumatic stress disorder in the German population: results of a representative population survey. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2011 Dec;199(12):934-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22134451?tool=bestpractice.com
[9]Kessler RC, Berglund P, Demler O, et al. Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005 Jun;62(6):593-602.
http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/208678
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15939837?tool=bestpractice.com
O intervalo das estimativas de prevalência em 12 meses relatadas é menor: 3.6% nos EUA, 0.6% na África do Sul e 1.1% em 6 países europeus.[3]Darves-Bornoz JM, Alonso J, de Girolamo G, et al. Main traumatic events in Europe: PTSD in the European Study of the Epidemiology of Mental Disorders Survey. J Trauma Stress. 2008 Oct;21(5):455-62.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18956444?tool=bestpractice.com
[10]Narrow WE, Rae DS, Robins LN, et al. Revised prevalence estimates of mental disorders in the United States: using a clinical significance criterion to reconcile 2 surveys' estimates. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2002 Feb;59(2):115-23.
http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/206036
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11825131?tool=bestpractice.com
[11]Williams DR, Herman A, Stein DJ, et al. Twelve-month mental disorders in South Africa: prevalence, service use and demographic correlates in the population-based South African Stress and Health Study. Psychol Med. 2008 Feb;38(2):211-20.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2718686
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17903333?tool=bestpractice.com
No Reino Unido, embora a exposição a EPTs a partir dos 16 anos de idade tenha sido relatada em apenas 33% dos adultos, TEPT atual foi relatado em 3%.[12]McManus S, Meltzer H, Wessely S. Posttraumatic stress disorder. In: McManus S, Meltzer H, Brugha T, et al, eds. Adult psychiatric morbidity in England, 2007: results of a household survey. London, UK: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care; 2009.