Disparities in Trauma and Mental Health Service Use

A burgeoning literature suggests that significant disparities in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) risk may exist, especially for racial-ethnic minorities and women. Individuals with PTSD report more barriers to care than those with other anxiety disorders, and only about half of those with PTSD receive even minimally adequate treatment. However, little is known about the interaction of race-ethnicity and gender in trauma and PTSD or about PTSD treatment patterns and preferences by demographic group. This study examined racial-ethnic and gender disparities in trauma and PTSD, barriers to mental health care, and mental health service utilization.