The Prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

To the Editor: Helzer et al. (Dec. 24 issue)¹ present the rates of prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder in the St. Louis area of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Survey. They reported those rates as 1 percent overall, 3.5 percent in people exposed to either a physical attack or combat, and 20 percent in combat veterans wounded in Vietnam. The authors concluded that post-traumatic stress disorder “exists but is uncommon except among wounded Vietnam veterans.” However, several points of contention must be addressed before their data can be accepted with confidence. First, a disorder that affects 1 percent of the population.