ABSTRACT
Posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] was observed to be clinically under diagnosed in the psychiatric outpatient clinic in Alexandria University Main Hospital. Because of the significant implications of PTSD on the sufferers and the whole community, so the aim of this work was to estimate the actual one-month rate of PTSD and to identify the causes of under diagnosis. All patients attended the clinic during one month were assessed by using a list of traumas [Kessler 's et al 1995] and DSM-IV PTSD criteria. Demographic characteristics, trauma and other clinical correlates of PTSD diagnosis were also examined. Out of 570 patients, 11.2% had PTSD; two-thirds of them had partial syndrome. Only 20% of the cases presented with PTSD manifestations. Ninety-four percent experienced one traumatic event and witnessing was the most common reported trauma. The majority [97%] had acute onset and the main duration of illness was more than 10 years. PTSD was strongly associated with other psychiatric disorders with major depression being the commonest comorbid disorder [20% of cases]. The rate of PTSD in the out-patient clinic in Alexandria University is relatively high. Patients' failure to acknowledge the traumatic experience, the presentation of PTSD patients with other psychiatric or somatic manifestations, the high rate of partial syndrome rather than full syndrome and the high comorbidity rate might be the possible factors behind the under diagnosis of PTSD