1. Cultural and Gender Differences in PTSD
Ms. Carmelitano

2. Symptomology of PTSD Affective: Behavioral: Cognitive: Somatic:
Ahedonia, emotional numbing
Behavioral:
Hyper-vigilance, passivity, nightmares, flashbacks, exaggerated startle response
Cognitive:
Intrusive memories, inability to concentrate, hyper vigilant
Somatic:
Lower back pain, headaches, stomach aches, insomnia, regression, losing developmental skills

3. Cultural difference in Diagnosis
The expression of cognitive symptoms of PTSD is a western phenomena
People in many other cultures initiate treatment because of somatic complaints
The DSM-IV states that somatic symptoms are “a-typical”
However, Kleinman (1987) argued that this was an ethnocentric assumption
Non-westerners typically report body-memory symptoms
category fallacy - when one presumes that what the mental health constructs will translate and be evident in other cultures.
It is irrational and ethnocentric to assume that non-western forms of the disorder are atypical- the form commonly seen in the West being assumed the norm.

4. Hanscom 2001
Worked with Guatemalan women who had been raped and tortured during a civil war
Found that the women were more likely to report somatic symptoms
Body memory symptoms
The women reported feeling “dizzy spells” rather than “cognitive flashbacks”
When they had been attacked they were forced to drink large amounts of alcohol to intoxicate them

5. Gender Differences in PTSD
Research has shown significant differences in reporting of PTSD when it comes to gender
Women: 10% of women will develop PTSD
Men: 5% of men will develop PTSD
Why?

6. Symptoms in men and women
Men: Suffer from irritability , impulsiveness and substance abuse
Women: Numbing, avoidance, anxiety and depression

7. Breslau et al (1991)
Longitudinal study of 1007 young adults who lived in a violent community
Found that 11.3% of women suffered from PTSD and only 6% of men suffered from PTSD
Is this due to a biological reason, or is there a social reason for these differences?

8. Horowitz et al (1995)
Reviewed a number of studies and found that women are 5 times more likely to develop PTSD than males are after experiencing a traumatic event

9. Why is there a difference?
Different types of traumas carry different risks for developing PTSD
Rape is experienced more in women than men, and this carries the highest chance for developing PTSD
50%

10. Socialization differences
Girls are more likely to internalize problems while boys externalize them (Nolen-Hoeksema 1994)
Achenbach 1991
Gave parents a Child Behavioral Checklist to complete in order to understand the different behaviors boys and girls exhibit when they have PTSD
He found that boys were more likely to exhibit delinquent traits and aggression, while girls were more likely to develop depression
He concluded that the males displayed external symptoms, while the females displayed internal ones