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.
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.
- Amanda M. Spray, PhDAmanda M. Spray, PhD, is a psychologist at NYU Langone Health in New York City and a clinical associate professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
- Collin Reiff, MDCollin Reiff, MD, is an addiction psychiatrist at NYU Langone Health and a clinical assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
References
Mann, S. K., et al. (2023). Posttraumatic stress disorder. StatPearls.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Parker, K., et al. (2017). 6 facts about the U.S. military and its changing demographics. Pew Research Center.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). Risk and resilience factors after disaster and mass violence.
For additional resources or to connect with mental health services in your area, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357. For immediate assistance, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or text HOME to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.