The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the population with foreign background during 2016–2020

The statistical report The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the population with foreign background during 2016–2020 was published in Finnish on December 20th 2022. It is currently available only in Finnish.

Prevalence is low but varies by region of origin

A person can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after being exposed to an event of exceptionally threatening or catastrophic nature. Symptoms of PTSD include reliving of the stressor, avoidance of circumstances resembling the stressor, inability to recall some aspects of exposure to the stressor, and/or persistent symptoms of increased psychological sensitivity and arousal.

During 2016–2020, 2 701 persons with foreign background (0.7 % of the population with foreign background) received the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in Finnish specialized health care. Of persons born abroad 0.7% received the diagnosis (2 596 persons) and of Finnish-born persons with foreign background 0,6 % received the diagnosis (105 persons).

The prevalence of PTSD varied by region of origin. Region of origin was examined with the following categorization: Russia and former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe (excl. Russia), Estonia, Western and Northern Europe (excl. Estonia), Southern Europe, Middle East and Northern Africa, Africa (excl. North Africa), Southern and Central Asia, Eastern Asia, South-eastern Asia, and America, Oceania and the rest. The prevalence was high-est in the Middle East and Northern Africa -group (2.6 %). Also in Southern Europe -group the prevalence was higher than average (1.1 %).

In almost all the region of origin -groups the prevalence of PTSD was higher among women than among men. Only in the Middle East and Northern Africa -group the prevalence was higher among men than among women (2.7 % vs. 2.4 %). Prevalence of PTSD was higher than average among women in the Southern Europe -group, Africa (excl. North Africa) -group, and America Oceania and the rest -group. Especially among Finn-ish-born persons with foreign background the prevalence of PTSD was higher in women than in men.

Download the full statistical report (in Finnish)

A bar chart, the content of which can be read on the page. — Figure 1. The prevalence of PTSD among the population with foreign background by origin and juridic gender.

Database

Source

The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the population with foreign background during 2016–2020
Traumaperäisen stressihäiriön (PTSD) esiintyvyys ulkomaalaistaustaisessa väestössä vuosina 2016–2020

Statistical Report 47/2022, 20.12.2022. THL.