Yes. More and more studies are being done internationally to identify the factors that cause a predisposition to post-traumatic stress. Some have been identified. We know that someone who has symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as a very rigid world view could be considered as being at risk.
Once again, the early diagnosis of such cases is difficult. Some people might have these symptoms without ever exibiting PTSD, because they have never come across a sufficiently traumatic event. However, there are people who do not seem to be predisposed, but who go through traumatic events serious enough to make them suffer from PTSD.
Let me give you an example. The University of Montreal did a study on post-traumatic stress disorder among women who have been raped. Eighty-five per cent of women in the study showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder a month after being raped. This shows that the predisposing factors do not play much of a role.
We believe that long-term cases of PTSD can be predicted by considering three factors: the factors previous to the traumatic incident, the incident as such and the treatment after the event. PTSD is caused by all three types of factors. An intense trauma can affect everyone, whether they are predisposed or not, the seriousness of the trauma will cause PTSD. If a trauma is less serious, it can cause PTSD if I am strongly predisposed, and treatment plays an important role.
Do you understand? Do you see what I mean?
Consequently, PTSD can be predicted by the number of factors in each category. Do I have many predisposing factors? Was it a major traumatic incident? Do I have much support following the incident? These were mentioned earlier: social support, my way of living with the trauma, how others treat me, and comorbidity. Obviously, with more factors in each category, I am at greater risk.