POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN ADULT VICTIMS OF AN AMMUNITIONS BLAST

Blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) is a major medical concern. Civilians typically do not wear protective equipment and are a more heterogeneous population that includes children and the elderly. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of PTSD in the population of Gerdeci village close to area of ammunition blast. This is a cross-sectional study comprising the population of Gerdeci village close to area of ammunition blast carried out in 2012. The mean age (±SD) of the participants was 36 (±4.3) years, ranging from 18 years to 67 years. The mean time since injury (±SD) was 5.2 (±1.2) months. 94 (57.75) of participants were males and 69 (42.3%) females. The prevalence of PTSD was 61 (37.4%). The rate of PTSD among females was (47.8%) males, without a significant difference as compared to males (29.8%) (p<0.01). More research is needed to study the interaction between trauma exposure, pre-existing psychological and biological vulnerabilities, and the post-trauma environment.