Evaluation of the Indices of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Trauma-Suffered Individuals Referred to Fars Province General Administration of Forensic Medicine

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most common psychological consequence of traumatic events, which is usually accompanied by functional impairment, which is often accompanied by other psychological disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the indicators of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in trauma patients referred to the examination department of the General Administration of Forensic Medicine of Fars province.

The present study was a cross-sectional one conducted in the years 2020 and 2021. In the present study, 160 participants were selected accidentally among people who experienced trauma and referred to the forensic medical examination centers in Shiraz. In this study, people with the age of 18 years or more who agreed to participate in the study and who were referred for the purpose of evaluating injuries caused by trauma, were included in the study. In this study, the participants were evaluated using the Trauma Exposure Questionnaire (PCL-5) and DSM-5 post-traumatic stress disorder levels.

In the present study, 160 people referred to the forensic medical examination unit were examined, including 91 men (56.87%) and 69 women (43.12%). Of these, 75 people (46.87%) qualified for PTSD based on ICD-10 criteria. The average age of the subjects was 45.67 ± 11.96 years, the youngest of whom was 18 years old and the oldest was 75 years old. Among the subjects studied, 9 people (12.00%) had a history of drinking alcoholic beverages, 6 people (8.00%) had a history of addiction, and 26 people (34.66%) had a history of smoking. On the other hand, 13 of the participants in this study had a history of visiting psychiatrists and psychologists and taking medication for psychological disorders. PTSD clinical evaluations measured in the studied subjects showed subclinical PTSD in 15 people, clinical form in 31 people, sub-group I PTSD in 7 people, sub-group II PTSD in 13 people, sub-group III PTSD in 6 people and Subgroup IV PTSD was observed in 3 people.

The results of this study indicate a considerable frequency of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in trauma clients referred to the examination department of the General administration of Forensic Medicine in Shiraz. Psychological support for victims of traumatic events is of great importance in order to prevent secondary complications and prevent chronic PTSD in people.