A new study shows a rise in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among American college students. PTSD rates increased by 4.1 percentage points, jumping from 3.
4 percent in 2017-2018 to 7.5 percent in 2021-2022. Over the five-year period from 2017 to 2022, the researchers also observed an increase in the prevalence of acute stress disorder (ASD) among college students.
ASD prevalence rose by 0.5 percentage points, growing from 0.2 percent to 0.
7 percent over the same timeframe. Even after accounting for demographic differences among participants, statistical analysis confirmed these upward trends remained statistically significant. “These trends highlight the escalating mental health challenges among college students, which is consistent with recent research reporting a surge in psychiatric diagnoses,” the authors wrote.
The authors warned that “PTSD and ASD can severely impair college students’ academic and social functioning.” These conditions can have far-reaching negative impacts that extend well beyond the college years. They have been linked to persistent, long-term health problems.
The wide-ranging societal repercussions of PTSD and acute stress disorder include diminished productivity in the workforce and escalating financial strains on health care systems and the broader economy, according to the study. Professional treatment typically involves working with a psychiatrist or other mental health professional who can provide medication management or talk the.
