Who is at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

Anyone who has experienced or witnessed a frightening, life-threatening event can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Military combat veterans, accident victims, people who have survived a natural disaster, rape victims, and children who have been abused can all be subject to PTSD. Even if you were not personally hurt during a traumatic event, seeing others get hurt or killed can lead you to experience PTSD. Some people are more likely than others to suffer from PTSD. Certain risk factors that are present in the individual before the event can affect how they respond to the event. People who have lived through multiple traumatic events, those who have a history of mental illness, those without strong social support, and those who have also experienced financial or emotional stresses unrelated to the event, may be more at risk for developing PTSD.