[Latent posttraumatic stress disorder in psychiatry at the Mohammed VI university hospital in Oujda].

INTRODUCTION

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe psychiatric disorder following exposure to a traumatic event. It is rarely diagnosed alone. High comorbidity has been observed between PTSD and other psychiatric disorders.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this work is to evaluate the prevalence of latent PTSD in a population followed in a service of psychiatry and to describe the associated factors.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

It is a descriptive cross-sectional study of 300 patients treated for psychiatric disorders, using a hetero-questionnaire containing sociodemographic data, personal and family history, clinical and therapeutic data, and characteristics of the traumatic event. The MINI was used to screen for PTSD and assess suicidal risk.

RESULTS

Exposure to a traumatic event is reported by 46.7% of patients, and PTSD by 19.7%. The suicidal risk is 47.7% in the presence of this comorbidity. An ESPT is significantly associated with a schizoaffective disorder and significant suicidal risk. The recentness of the traumatic event, the presence of a state of acute stress and the absence of family psychological support are significantly associated with the occurrence of PTSD.

CONCLUSION

A significant number of patients with a psychiatric disorder have undiagnosed PTSD, thus explaining their clinical deterioration. Screening and treatment of the underlying PTSD would help to improve their management.