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PTSD

Factors That Increase the Risk of PTSD in Veterans

Some veterans are more susceptible to post-traumatic stress disorder than others due to these factors.

Lauren Smith, MAMera Goodman, MD, FAAP
Written by Lauren Smith, MA | Reviewed by Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP
Updated on September 11, 2025
Featuring Amanda M. Spray, PhD, Collin Reiff, MDReviewed by Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP | September 11, 2025

People who have served in the military are likely to witness or experience traumatic events during combat. That said, not every veteran develops post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Here are the biggest risk factors for PTSD among veterans, according to Amanda M. Spray, PhD, Psychologist at NYU Langone Health, and Collin Reiff, MD, Psychiatrist at NYU Langone Health.

References

Mann, S. K., et al. (2023). Posttraumatic stress disorder. StatPearls.

National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Post-traumatic stress disorder.

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Lauren Smith, MA
Written by:
Lauren Smith, MA
Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.
Mera Goodman, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician. Prior to practicing medicine, she worked as a management consultant.

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