El trastorno por estrés postraumático: una consecuencia de los asaltos / Post traumatic stress disorder among assault victims

RESUMEN

Background: Urban violence is increasing in Metropolitan Santiago and assault victims may suffer from post traumatic stress disorders. Aim: To study the clinical and evolutive profile of post traumatic stress disorders among assault victims. Material and methods: Retrospective review of medical records of assault victims with post traumatic stress disorder, that were attended at the Hospital del Trabajador between 1987 and 2000. The features of these patients were compared with other patients with post traumatic stress disorders not caused by assaults. Results: The records of 140 subjects (88 female) aged 34.9±10.9 years old, were reviewed. Seventy one percent of subjects worked as clerks and 59 percent were attended during the first month after the assault. Treatment with psychotherapy and psychotropic drugs lasted a median of 60 days and 62 percent was discharged before completing three months of treatment. These subjects used more antidepressants and had more physical lesions than subjects with a post traumatic stress disorder not caused by assaults. Conclusions: Timely diagnosis and treatment of post traumatic stress disorders caused by assaults, results in a favorable outcome in two thirds of patients.