Risk Factors for PTSD After Trauma Exposure: A Systematic Review
Keywords:
Risk Factors for PTSD , A Systematic ReviewAbstract
Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can result from experiencing highly stressful events and can be quite common and incapacitating. Understanding what causes PTSD and complex PTSD (CPTSD) is helpful when it comes to prevention and early treatments.
Methods: An extensive literature search was performed using Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, filtering results from 2016 to 2026. The search terms included “PTSD”, “risk factors”, “trauma exposure” and “CPTSD”. A total of 305 records were found while adhering to PRISMA guidelines. After applying the study selection criteria, this resulted in 7 studies that were included in the final synthesis.
Results: It was found that developmental trauma, repeated trauma exposure, and interpersonal trauma were the biggest predictors of PTSD and CPTSD. Rumination, dysregulation, and negative cognitive and emotional processes were all linked to symptom intensity. Low social support, loneliness, and post-trauma stress as social and environmental risk factors raised the odds of developing PTSD. Additionally, female gender was found to be a general demographic predictor. High comorbidity with depression, anxiety, suicidality, and somatic symptoms was also observed. CPTSD was more strongly linked to chronic, interpersonal, and developmental trauma compared to PTSD.
Conclusions: Multiple trauma factors, personal cognitive-emotional traits, social circumstances, and some post-trauma factors will determine prospective PTSD risk. The chronic and type of trauma, as well as some cognitive and emotional processes, are factors leading you to risk chronic PTSD and CPTSD.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Niloofar Rezayat (Author); Hassan Khezri
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