Cited by 1,058Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchChild Abuse and TraumaPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 258 of the 259 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Gender differences in posttraumatic stress disorder.

Olff, Miranda, Langeland, Willie, Draijer, Nel, Gersons, Berthold P. R.·2007·Psychological Bulletin

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

One of the most consistent findings in the epidemiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the higher risk of this disorder in women. Explanations reviewed within a psychobiological model of PTSD suggest that women's higher PTSD risk may be due to the type of trauma they experience, their younger age at the time of trauma exposure, their stronger perceptions of threat and loss of control, higher levels of peri-traumatic dissociation, insufficient social support resources, and greater use of alcohol to manage trauma-related symptoms like intrusive memories and dissociation, as well as gender-specific acute psychobiological reactions to trauma. This review demonstrates the need for additional research of the gender differences in posttraumatic stress. Recommendations are made for clinical practice.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1037/0033-2909.133.2.183

Cites

258 of 258 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

This paper’s full text isn’t openly available, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Williams, J. B. W., & First, M. B. (2013) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199975839.013.104 · Cited by 109,845
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the National Comorbidity Survey
Kessler, R. C. (1995) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1995.03950240066012 · Cited by 10,379
Loss, trauma, and human resilience: have we underestimated the human capacity to thrive after extremely aversive events?
Bonanno, G. A. (2004) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.59.1.20 · Cited by 6,851
Protective and Damaging Effects of Stress Mediators
McEwen, B. S. (1998) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejm199801153380307 · Cited by 6,733
A cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder
Ehlers, A., & Clark, D. M. (2000) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(99)00123-0 · Cited by 6,147
Acute stressors and cortisol responses: a theoretical integration and synthesis of laboratory research
Dickerson, S. S., & Kemeny, M. E. (2004) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.130.3.355 · Cited by 5,881
Meta-analysis of risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder in trauma-exposed adults
Brewin, C. R., Andrews, B., & Valentine, J. D. (2000) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.68.5.748 · Cited by 5,243
Psychological stress and the human immune system: a meta-analytic study of 30 Years of inquiry
Segerstrom, S. C., & Miller, G. E. (2004) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.130.4.601 · Cited by 3,334
Predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder and symptoms in adults: a meta-analysis
Ozer, E. J., Best, S. R., Lipsey, T. L., & Weiss, D. S. (2003) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.129.1.52 · Cited by 3,322
Biobehavioral responses to stress in females: Tend-and-befriend, not fight-or-flight.
Taylor, S. E., Klein, L. C., Lewis, B. P., Gruenewald, T. L., Gurung, R. A. R., & Updegraff, J. A. (2000) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.107.3.411 · Cited by 3,308

Show all 259 references

Sorted by citations

Trauma and PTSD in the WHO World Mental Health Surveys
Kessler, R. C., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Alonso, J., Benjet, C., Bromet, E. J., Cardoso, G., Degenhardt, L., de Girolamo, G., Dinolova, R. V., Ferry, F., et al. (2017) · European Journal of Psychotraumatology · doi:10.1080/20008198.2017.1353383 · Cited by 1,661
Prevalence and predictors of PTSS during COVID-19 outbreak in China hardest-hit areas: gender differences matter
Liu, N., Zhang, F., Wei, C., Jia, Y., Shang, Z., Sun, L., Wu, L., Sun, Z., Zhou, Y., Wang, Y., et al. (2020) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.112921 · Cited by 1,548
“It has been proposed that hyper-activation of neural fear processing networks can explain gender differences in PTSS prevalence (Olff et al., 2007) .”
Background
Nurses’ burnout and associated risk factors during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Galanis, P., Vraka, I., Fragkou, D., Bilali, A., & Kaitelidou, D. (2021) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1111/jan.14839 · Cited by 993
Rates of post-traumatic stress disorder in trauma-exposed children and adolescents: meta-analysis
Alisic, E., Zalta, A. K., van Wesel, F., Larsen, S. E., Hafstad, G. S., Hassanpour, K., & Smid, G. E. (2014) · British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.113.131227 · Cited by 930
Impacts of adverse childhood experiences on health, mental health, and substance use in early adulthood: A cohort study of an urban, minority sample in the U.S.
Mersky, J. P., Topitzes, J., & Reynolds, A. J. (2013) · Child Abuse & Neglect · doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.07.011 · Cited by 729
“Our results should be viewed with some caution, however, because data were not available to evaluate PTSD and other specific anxiety disorders that may be more prevalent among females than among males in the wake of adverse events (Afifi et al., 2008; Dube et al., 2005; Olff et al., 2007).”
Result
Sex influences on the neurobiology of learning and memoryPreprint
Andreano, J. M., & Cahill, L. F. (2009) · Learning & Memory · doi:10.1101/lm.918309 · Cited by 714
“ERP studies have also shown differing response patterns to emotional material between men and women (Orozco and Ehlers 1998; Gasbarri et al. 2007).”
Result
Cortisol and post-traumatic stress disorder in adults: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Meewisse, M.-L., Reitsma, J. B., De Vries, G.-J., Gersons, B. P. R., & Olff, M. (2007) · British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.106.024877 · Cited by 661
Self-citation
The role of oxytocin in social bonding, stress regulation and mental health: an update on the moderating effects of context and interindividual differences
Olff, M., Frijling, J. L., Kubzansky, L. D., Bradley, B., Ellenbogen, M. A., Cardoso, C., Bartz, J. A., Yee, J. R., & van Zuiden, M. (2013) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.06.019 · Cited by 620
“PTSD in adulthood has a higher prevalence in women (Olff et al., 2007) and has been associated with increased presence of childhood trauma or maltreatment (Bremner et al.”
BackgroundSelf-citation
Child Abuse and Neglect in the UK Today
Radford, L., Corral, S., Bradley, C., Fisher, H. L., Bassett, C., Howat, N., & Collishaw, S. (2011) · CLOK (University of Central Lancashire) · Cited by 548
A Large‐Scale Survey on Trauma, Burnout, and Posttraumatic Growth among Nurses during the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Chen, R., Sun, C., Chen, J., Jen, H., Kang, X. L., Kao, C., & Chou, K. (2020) · International Journal of Mental Health Nursing · doi:10.1111/inm.12796 · Cited by 599
“2020; Olff et al .”
Psychometric properties of the UCLA PTSD reaction index: part I.
Steinberg, A., Brymer, M., Kim, S., Briggs, E., Ippen, C., Ostrowski, S. A., Gully, K. J., & Pynoos, R. (2013) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.21780 · Cited by 481
Post‐traumatic stress disorder: a state‐of‐the‐art review of evidence and challenges
Bryant, R. A. (2019) · World Psychiatry · doi:10.1002/wps.20656 · Cited by 528
Relations among posttraumatic stress disorder, comorbid major depression, and HPA function: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Morris, M. C., Compas, B. E., & Garber, J. (2012) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2012.02.002 · Cited by 466
Smaller hippocampal volume in posttraumatic stress disorder: a multisite ENIGMA-PGC study: subcortical volumetry results from posttraumatic stress disorder consortia
Logue, M. W., van Rooij, S. J. H., Dennis, E. L., Davis, S. L., Hayes, J. P., Stevens, J. S., Densmore, M., Haswell, C. C., Ipser, J., Koch, S. B. J., et al. (2018) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.09.006 · Cited by 487
“PTSD is more prevalent in women than in men (55).”
BackgroundSelf-citation
A meta-analysis of the relationship between job burnout and secondary traumatic stress among workers with indirect exposure to trauma.
Cieślak, R., Shoji, K., Douglas, A., Melville, E., Łuszczyńska, A., & Benight, C. C. (2013) · Psychological Services · doi:10.1037/a0033798 · Cited by 574
Sex differences in animal models of psychiatric disorders
Kokras, N., & Dalla, C. (2014) · British Journal of Pharmacology · doi:10.1111/bph.12710 · Cited by 441
“In this context, animal models can assist in studying sex differences in PTSD (Olff et al., 2007; Zohar et al., 2008; Cohen and Yehuda, 2011; Cohen et al., 2012).”
Background
Largest GWAS of PTSD (N=20 070) yields genetic overlap with schizophrenia and sex differences in heritability
Duncan, L. E., Ratanatharathorn, A., Aiello, A. E., Almli, L. M., Amstadter, A. B., Ashley-Koch, A. E., Baker, D. G., Beckham, J. C., Bierut, L. J., Bisson, J., et al. (2018) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/mp.2017.77 · Cited by 425
Posttraumatic stress symptoms and health-related quality of life: a two year follow up study of injury treated at the emergency department
Haagsma, J. A., Polinder, S., Olff, M., Toet, H., Bonsel, G. J., & van Beeck, E. F. (2012) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/1471-244x-12-1 · Cited by 431
“This association is in line with findings in the general literature [37] and has been reported by other studies on PTSD following injuries [3, 38-40].”
ResultSelf-citation
Inflammation and post‐traumatic stress disorder
Hori, H., & Kim, Y. (2019) · Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences · doi:10.1111/pcn.12820 · Cited by 437
“Other potential mechanisms that explain sex differences in PTSD may include HPA axis (re)activity, oxytocin, as well as psychological factors, such as differential threat perceptions and coping styles.(161) Inflammatory pathology in PTSD may also be different between sexes, which has been poorly understood and therefo…”
Background
The lifetime prevalence of traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder in the Netherlands
de Vries, G., & Olff, M. (2009) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.20429 · Cited by 390
Self-citation
Sex differences in anxiety and emotional behavior
Donner, N. C., & Lowry, C. A. (2013) · Pflügers Archiv - European Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1007/s00424-013-1271-7 · Cited by 379
“of women combined with a different perception of the PTSD-inducing event [80, 275].”
Background
Mild traumatic brain injury does not predict acute postconcussion syndrome
Meares, S., Shores, E. A., Taylor, A., Batchelor, J., Bryant, R. A., Baguley, I. J., Chapman, J., Gurka, J. A., Dawson, K. S., Capon, L., et al. (2007) · Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry · doi:10.1136/jnnp.2007.126565 · Cited by 343
“19 These sex differences may be due to acute psychobiological reactions which have been proposed to differ in females relative to males following acute stress.(40) Age has been found to be an inconsistent predictor of outcome and was not found to be associated with acute PCS.”
Background
ICD‐11 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the United States: A Population‐Based Study
Cloitre, M., Hyland, P., Bisson, J. I., Brewin, C. R., Roberts, N. P., Karatzias, T., & Shevlin, M. (2019) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.22454 · Cited by 340
Physical, psychological, and social sequelae following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a review of the literature
Mosher, C. E., Redd, W. H., Rini, C. M., Burkhalter, J. E., & DuHamel, K. N. (2009) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.1399 · Cited by 315
“To date, only one prospective study and one retrospective report have examined PTSD symptoms before and after HSCT [49,51], and, thus, little is known regarding changes in PTSD symptoms over this time period.”
BackgroundResultInfluential
Current status on behavioral and biological markers of PTSD: A search for clarity in a conflicting literature
Zoladz, P. R., & Diamond, D. M. (2013) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.03.024 · Cited by 339
“…et al., 2009; Zona and Milan, 2011; Irish et al., 2011), which may prove to be relevant to enhancing our understanding of why women have a higher lifetime prevalence of PTSD than men (Tolin and Foa, 2006b; Stein et al., 2000b; Pratchett et al., 2010; McLean and Anderson, 2009; Olff et al., 2007b).”
Influential
Gender Differences in Self-Reported Posttraumatic Growth: A Meta-Analysis
Vishnevsky, T., Cann, A., Calhoun, L. G., Tedeschi, R. G., & Demakis, G. J. (2010) · Psychology of Women Quarterly · doi:10.1111/j.1471-6402.2009.01546.x · Cited by 387
“Additionally, women are more likely than men to experience acute psychological and biological responses to trauma including intense fear, avoidance, intrusive thoughts, horror, helplessness, panic, and anxiety (Olff et al., 2007).”
BackgroundMethod
The role of executive function in posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review
Polak, A. R., Witteveen, A. B., Reitsma, J. B., & Olff, M. (2012) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2012.01.001 · Cited by 277
“With the relatively high lifetime prevalence of PTSD around 7% (De Vries and Olff, 2009; Olff et al., 2007) and the great individual distress as well as societal burden associated with PTSD, our study adds important findings particularly because executive function is crucial for effective occupational functioning (Kal…”
BackgroundSelf-citation
Civil War, Reintegration, and Gender in Northern Uganda
Annan, J. R., Blattman, C., Mazurana, D. E., & Carlson, K. (2011) · Journal of Conflict Resolution · doi:10.1177/0022002711408013 · Cited by 288
“Others posit that females have more ongoing stressors, that females are biologically more vulnerable, or that females are more likely to blame themselves for events (Olff et al. 2007).”
Background
Childhood sexual abuse and psychosis: data from a cross-sectional national psychiatric survey in England
Bebbington, P., Jonas, S., Kuipers, E., King, M., Cooper, C., Brugha, T., Meltzer, H., McManus, S., & Jenkins, R. (2011) · British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.110.083642 · Cited by 272
Workplace greenery and perceived level of stress: Benefits of access to a green outdoor environment at the workplace
Lottrup, L., Grahn, P., & Stigsdotter, U. K. (2012) · Landscape and Urban Planning · doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2012.09.002 · Cited by 268
Hope, optimism, self‐efficacy, and posttraumatic stress disorder: A meta‐analytic review of the protective effects of positive expectancies
Gallagher, M. W., Long, L. J., & Phillips, C. A. (2020) · Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1002/jclp.22882 · Cited by 264
Post-learning intranasal oxytocin modulates human memory for facial identity
Savaskan, E., Ehrhardt, R., Schulz, A., Walter, M., & Schächinger, H. (2008) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.12.004 · Cited by 262
“…disorders including stress-related disorder, social-phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), personality disorders and depression (Maes et al., 1999; Bartz and Hollander, 2006; Hollander et al., 2007; Olff et al., 2007; Scantamburlo et al., 2007).”
Background
Estrogen Levels Are Associated with Extinction Deficits in Women with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Glover, E. M., Jovanović, T., Mercer, K. B., Kerley, K. A., Bradley, B., Ressler, K. J., & Norrholm, S. D. (2012) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.02.031 · Cited by 272
“nor types of traumatic events nor the presence of comorbid psychiatric disorders significantly account for increased PTSD risk in women (2,3,5).”
Background
Reward functioning in PTSD: a systematic review exploring the mechanisms underlying anhedonia
Nawijn, L., van Zuiden, M., Frijling, J. L., Koch, S. B. J., Veltman, D. J., & Olff, M. (2015) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.01.019 · Cited by 250
Self-citation
Prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Prisoners
Baranyi, G., Cassidy, M., Fazel, S., Priebe, S., & Mundt, A. P. (2018) · Epidemiologic Reviews · doi:10.1093/epirev/mxx015 · Cited by 247
Accounting for sex differences in PTSD: A multi-variable mediation model
Christiansen, D. M., & Hansen, M. (2015) · European Journal of Psychotraumatology · doi:10.3402/ejpt.v6.26068 · Cited by 246
“Although negative social support may act as a partial mediator (Andrews et al., 2003), the general conclusion is that it cannot fully account for sex differences in PTSD (Olff et al., 2007).”
BackgroundInfluential
Intelligence and Other Predisposing Factors in Exposure to Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Breslau, N., Lucia, V. C., & Alvarado, G. F. (2006) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archpsyc.63.11.1238 · Cited by 234
Impact of maternal posttraumatic stress disorder and depression following exposure to the September 11 attacks on preschool children's behavior
Chemtob, C. M., Nomura, Y., Rajendran, K., Yehuda, R., Schwartz, D., & Abramovitz, R. (2010) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01458.x · Cited by 229
Challenges and Successes in Dissemination of Evidence-Based Treatments for Posttraumatic Stress
Foa, E. B., Gillihan, S. J., & Bryant, R. A. (2013) · Psychological Science in the Public Interest · doi:10.1177/1529100612468841 · Cited by 240
Does it hurt to ask? A meta-analysis of participant reactions to trauma research
Jaffe, A. E., DiLillo, D., Hoffman, L., Haikalis, M., & Dykstra, R. E. (2015) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2015.05.004 · Cited by 221
Perceived past, present, and future control and adjustment to stressful life events
Frazier, P., Keenan, N., Anders, S., Perera, S., Shallcross, S., & Hintz, S. (2011) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0022405 · Cited by 219
Posttraumatic stress symptoms, PTSD, and risk factors among lower Manhattan residents 2–3 years after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks
DiGrande, L., Perrin, M. A., Thorpe, L. E., Thalji, L., Murphy, J., Wu, D., Farfel, M. R., & Brackbill, R. M. (2008) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.20345 · Cited by 221
Combined pharmacotherapy and psychological therapies for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Hetrick, S. E., Purcell, R., Garner, B., & Parslow, R. (2010) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd007316.pub2 · Cited by 212
Contrasting portraits of war: Youths' varied experiences with political violence in Bosnia and Palestine
Barber, B. K. (2008) · International Journal of Behavioral Development · doi:10.1177/0165025408090972 · Cited by 198
Women and Suicidal Behavior
Canetto, S. S., & Chen, J. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108561716.042 · Cited by 194
Risk Factors for the Development of Psychopathology Following Trauma
Sayed, S., Iacoviello, B. M., & Charney, D. S. (2015) · Current Psychiatry Reports · doi:10.1007/s11920-015-0612-y · Cited by 189
Neural responses to masked fear faces: Sex differences and trauma exposure in posttraumatic stress disorder.
Felmingham, K., Williams, L. M., Kemp, A. H., Liddell, B., Falconer, E., Peduto, A., & Bryant, R. (2010) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0017551 · Cited by 179
“That is, the greater incidence of PTSD in women may involve hyperactivation of fearprocessing networks (Olff et al., 2007).”
Background
The genetic background to PTSD
Broekman, B. F. P., Olff, M., & Boer, F. (2006) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2006.10.001 · Cited by 191
Self-citation
Psychological outcomes following the Victorian Black Saturday bushfires
Bryant, R. A., Waters, E., Gibbs, L., Gallagher, H. C., Pattison, P., Lusher, D., MacDougall, C., Harms, L., Block, K., Snowdon, E., et al. (2014) · Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/0004867414534476 · Cited by 194
“The increased risk for women of developing PTSD (in this case, as related to the bushfires), which may be attributed to hormonal, situational, or social factors that can all contribute to this increased risk, is a very consistent finding across most studies (Olff et al., 2007).”
Result
Medical Comorbidity of Full and Partial Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in US Adults
Pietrzak, R. H., Goldstein, R. B., Southwick, S. M., & Grant, B. F. (2011) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/psy.0b013e3182303775 · Cited by 174
“One possible explanation for the association of PTSD status with hypertension only in men is that men may show greater adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol release in response to stress (54,55), as well as sensitized physiological hyperarousal symptoms and increased aggressive behaviors (56), which may in turn inc…”
Background
Associations Between Dimensions of Anxiety Sensitivity and PTSD Symptom Clusters in Active‐Duty Police Officers
Asmundson, G. J. G., & Stapleton, J. A. (2008) · Cognitive Behaviour Therapy · doi:10.1080/16506070801969005 · Cited by 167
Sex Differences in Molecular and Cellular Substrates of Stress
Bangasser, D. A., & Valentino, R. J. (2012) · Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology · doi:10.1007/s10571-012-9824-4 · Cited by 160
“For example, men experience more physical attacks and serious accidents, while women are more likely to experience interpersonal assaults and sexual abuse (Breslau et al. 1998; Breslau 2002; Perkonigg et al. 2000; Kessler et al. 1995; Olff et al. 2007; Tolin and Foa 2006).”
Changes in cortisol and DHEA plasma levels after psychotherapy for PTSD
Olff, M., de Vries, G.-J., Güzelcan, Y., Assies, J., & Gersons, B. P. R. (2007) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.04.001 · Cited by 159
Self-citation
Post traumatic stress disorder and coping strategies among adult survivors of earthquake, Nepal
Baral, I. A., & Bhagawati, K. C. (2019) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2090-y · Cited by 161
The importance of the peritraumatic experience in defining traumatic stress.
Bovin, M. J., & Marx, B. P. (2011) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/a0021353 · Cited by 156
Internalizing disorders and leukocyte telomere erosion: a prospective study of depression, generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder
Shalev, I., Moffitt, T. E., Braithwaite, A. W., Danese, A., Fleming, N. I., Goldman-Mellor, S., Harrington, H. L., Houts, R. M., Israel, S., Poulton, R., et al. (2014) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/mp.2013.183 · Cited by 155
Suicide Attempts, Gender, and Sexual Abuse: Data From the 2000 British Psychiatric Morbidity Survey
Bebbington, P., Cooper, C., Minot, S., Brugha, T. S., Jenkins, R., Meltzer, H., & Dennis, M. (2009) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.09030310 · Cited by 155
The relationship between post traumatic stress disorder and post traumatic growth: gender differences in PTG and PTSD subgroups
Jin, Y., Xu, J., & Liu, D. (2014) · Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology · doi:10.1007/s00127-014-0865-5 · Cited by 155
Hair Cortisol Level as a Biomarker for Altered Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Activity in Female Adolescents with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder After the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake
Luo, H., Hu, X., Liu, X., Ma, X., Guo, W., Qiu, C., Wang, Y., Wang, Q., Zhang, X., Zhang, W., et al. (2012) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.12.020 · Cited by 149
Gender differences in PTSD symptoms: An exploration of peritraumatic mechanisms
Irish, L. A., Fischer, B., Fallon, W. F., Spoonster, E., Sledjeski, E. M., & Delahanty, D. L. (2010) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2010.09.004 · Cited by 165
“Finally, the primary purpose of the present analyses was to test previously hypothesized mechanisms for gender differences in PTSS (e.g. Olff et al., 2007).”
Background
Chronic Stress- and Sex-Specific Neuromorphological and Functional Changes in Limbic Structures
McLaughlin, K. J., Baran, S. E., & Conrad, C. D. (2009) · Molecular Neurobiology · doi:10.1007/s12035-009-8079-7 · Cited by 158
“As we begin to unravel the complexity of brain plasticity and function, which includes a variety of brain structures and behaviors, we increase the awareness of the neuromorphological and functional similarities among disorders such as MDD, PTSD, and Alzheimer’s disease.”
BackgroundInfluential
Cortisol, heart rate, and blood pressure as early markers of PTSD risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Morris, M. C., Hellman, N. M., Abelson, J. L., & Rao, U. (2016) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2016.09.001 · Cited by 160
“Theoretical models have proposed that sex differences in neuroendocrine stress responses may account, in part, for elevated PTSD risk in women (Olff et al., 2007).”
BackgroundInfluential
Conditional risk for PTSD among Latinos: A systematic review of racial/ethnic differences and sociocultural explanations
Alcántara, C., Casement, M. D., & Lewis‐Fernández, R. (2012) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2012.10.005 · Cited by 147
Neurobiology of comorbid post‐traumatic stress disorder and alcohol‐use disorder
Gilpin, N. W., & Weiner, J. L. (2016) · Genes Brain & Behavior · doi:10.1111/gbb.12349 · Cited by 154
A systematic review and meta-analysis of correlates of prolonged grief disorder in adults exposed to violent loss
Heeke, C., Kampisiou, C., Niemeyer, H., & Knaevelsrud, C. (2017) · European Journal of Psychotraumatology · doi:10.1080/20008198.2019.1583524 · Cited by 156
Oxytocin response to an experimental psychosocial challenge in adults exposed to traumatic experiences during childhood or adolescence
Pierrehumbert, B., Torrisi, R., Laufer, D., Halfon, O., Ansermet, F., & Beck Popovic, M. (2010) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2009.12.016 · Cited by 139
Broken and guilty since it happened: A population study of trauma-related shame and guilt after violence and sexual abuse
Aakvaag, H. F., Thoresen, S., Wentzel‐Larsen, T., Dyb, G. A., Røysamb, E., & Olff, M. (2016) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.06.004 · Cited by 141
Self-citation
Events that have become central to identity: Gender differences in the centrality of events scale for positive and negative events
Boals, A. (2009) · Applied Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1002/acp.1548 · Cited by 155
Sex differences in activated corticotropin-releasing factor neurons within stress-related neurocircuitry and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical axis hormones following restraint in rats
Babb, J. A., Masini, C. V., Day, H. E. W., & Campeau, S. (2013) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2012.12.051 · Cited by 134
Childhood Antecedents of Exposure to Traumatic Events and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Storr, C. L., Ialongo, N. S., Anthony, J. C., & Breslau, N. (2007) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/ajp.2007.164.1.119 · Cited by 137
HPA- and HPT-axis alterations in chronic posttraumatic stress disorder
Olff, M., Güzelcan, Y., de Vries, G.-J., Assies, J., & Gersons, B. P. R. (2006) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2006.09.003 · Cited by 153
Self-citation
The role of anxiety sensitivity and difficulties in emotion regulation in posttraumatic stress disorder among crack/cocaine dependent patients in residential substance abuse treatment
McDermott, M. J., Tull, M. T., Gratz, K. L., Daughters, S. B., & Lejuez, C. W. (2009) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2009.01.006 · Cited by 137
A psychobiological rationale for oxytocin in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder
Olff, M., Langeland, W., Witteveen, A., & Denys, D. (2010) · CNS Spectrums · doi:10.1017/s109285290000047x · Cited by 135
Self-citation
Potentially traumatic events in a transgender sample: Frequency and associated symptoms.
Shipherd, J. C., Maguen, S., Skidmore, W. C., & Abramovitz, S. M. (2011) · Traumatology An International Journal · doi:10.1177/1534765610395614 · Cited by 134
Predictive validity of the Trauma Screening Questionnaire in detecting post-traumatic stress disorder in patients with psychotic disorders
de Bont, P. A. J. M., van den Berg, D. P. G., van der Vleugel, B. M., de Roos, C., de Jongh, A., van der Gaag, M., & van Minnen, A. (2015) · British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.114.148486 · Cited by 133
Muslim men and women’s perception of discrimination, hate crimes, and PTSD symptoms post 9/11.
Abu-Ras, W. M., & Suárez, Z. E. (2009) · Traumatology An International Journal · doi:10.1177/1534765609342281 · Cited by 135
“Because research shows that women are at higher risk for PTSD (Gross & Graham-Bermann, 2006; Olff et al., 2007; Tolin & Foa, 2006), we tried to quantify these gender differences as they relate to variables associated with PTSD.”
Background
Gender differences in relationships among PTSD severity, drinking motives, and alcohol use in a comorbid alcohol dependence and PTSD sample.
Lehavot, K., Stappenbeck, C. A., Luterek, J. A., Kaysen, D. L., & Simpson, T. L. (2013) · Psychology of Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1037/a0032266 · Cited by 137
Animal model for PTSD: From clinical concept to translational research
Cohen, H., Kozlovsky, N., Alona, C., Matar, M. A., & Zohar, J. (2011) · Neuropharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2011.04.023 · Cited by 128
“Virtually every large-scale epidemiologic study has documented a greater prevalence of PTSD in women than men (Breslau et al., 1999; Brewin et al., 2000; Freedman et al., 2002; Robin et al., 1997; Olff et al., 2007).”
Background
Using a social construction of gender lens to understand gender differences in posttraumatic stress disorder
Street, A. E., & Dardis, C. M. (2018) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2018.03.001 · Cited by 131
The disparate impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of female and male caregivers
Wade, M., Prime, H., Johnson, D., May, S. S., Jenkins, J. M., & Browne, D. T. (2021) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113801 · Cited by 131
Health‐related quality of life of COVID‐19 patients after discharge: A multicenter follow‐up study
Qu, G., Zhen, Q., Wang, W., Fan, S., Wu, Q., Zhang, C., Li, B., Liu, G., Yu, Y., Li, Y., et al. (2021) · Journal of Clinical Nursing · doi:10.1111/jocn.15733 · Cited by 138
“…of life; MCS, mental component summary; PCS, physical component summary. addition, it has been proposed that differences in coping strategies and differential neural network activation between women and men may explain gender differences in mental problems (Olff et al., 2007; Schmied et al., 2015).”
Background
Posttraumatic stress and growth among Tibetan refugees: the mediating role of cognitive‐emotional regulation strategies
Hussain, D., & Bhushan, B. (2011) · Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1002/jclp.20801 · Cited by 128
Gender Differences in the Longitudinal Impact of Exposure to Violence on Mental Health in Urban Youth
Zona, K., & Milan, S. (2011) · Journal of Youth and Adolescence · doi:10.1007/s10964-011-9649-3 · Cited by 127
Entering exile: Trauma, mental health, and coping among Tibetan refugees arriving in Dharamsala, India
Sachs, E., Rosenfeld, B. D., Lhewa, D., Rasmussen, A., & Keller, A. S. (2008) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.20324 · Cited by 129
“Most studies of Tibetan refugees have also oversampled women, who typically report higher levels of psychological distress than men (e.g., Olff, Langeland, & Draijer, 2007 ).”
Background
Low levels of estradiol are associated with elevated conditioned responding during fear extinction and with intrusive memories in daily life
Wegerer, M., Kerschbaum, H., Blechert, J., & Wilhelm, F. H. (2014) · Neurobiology of Learning and Memory · doi:10.1016/j.nlm.2014.10.001 · Cited by 122
Intranasal oxytocin as strategy for medication-enhanced psychotherapy of PTSD: salience processing and fear inhibition processes
Koch, S. B. J., van Zuiden, M., Nawijn, L., Frijling, J. L., Veltman, D. J., & Olff, M. (2014) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.11.018 · Cited by 123
Self-citation
Trauma, PTSD, and binge and hazardous drinking among women and men: Findings from a national study
Kachadourian, L. K., Pilver, C. E., & Potenza, M. N. (2014) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.04.018 · Cited by 122
Hippocampal and amygdala volumes in adults with posttraumatic stress disorder secondary to childhood abuse or maltreatment: A systematic review
Ahmed-Leitao, F., Spies, G., van den Heuvel, L. L., & Seedat, S. (2016) · Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging · doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2016.09.008 · Cited by 123
“Reference lists of the selected articles were also checked for additional publications that may have met our criteria (we were able to include two more papers that met our eligibility criteria) (Pederson et al., 2004; Veer et al., 2015).”
BackgroundResult
Gender-based disparities in the impact of adverse childhood experiences on adult health: findings from a national study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Almuneef, M. A., ElChoueiry, N., Saleheen, H. N., & Al‐Eissa, M. A. (2017) · International Journal for Equity in Health · doi:10.1186/s12939-017-0588-9 · Cited by 130
Gender-related time course of sleep disturbances and psychological symptoms during the COVID-19 lockdown: A longitudinal study on the Italian population
Salfi, F., Lauriola, M., Amicucci, G., Corigliano, D., Viselli, L., Tempesta, D., & Ferrara, M. (2020) · Neurobiology of Stress · doi:10.1016/j.ynstr.2020.100259 · Cited by 119
“…side since the risk for psycho-pathology markedly differs between men and women, and women represent a high-risk category for mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Malhi and Mann, 2018; World Health Organization, 2020b; Olff et al., 2007).”
The Mental Health Impact of Volunteering in a Disaster Setting
Thormar, S. B., Gersons, B. P. R., Juen, B. H., Marschang, A., Djakababa, M. N., & Olff, M. (2010) · The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease · doi:10.1097/nmd.0b013e3181ea1fa9 · Cited by 118
“Lifetime prevalence of PTSD in the general population is around 6% to 8% (Frans, 2003; Kessler et al., 1995; De Vries and Olff, 2009; Who.org, 2007) with women twice as likely as men to have PTSD at some point in their lives (Olff et al., 2007).”
BackgroundSelf-citation
Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
Lommen, M. J. J., & Restifo, K. (2009) · Community Mental Health Journal · doi:10.1007/s10597-009-9248-x · Cited by 117
“…findings in the general PTSD literature, results of earlier studies among men and women with a severe mental illness found no differences (Brewin et al. 2000; Cascardi et al. 1996; Davidson and Smith 1990; McFarlane et al. 2001; Mueser et al. 1998, 2001; Ollf et al. 2007; Switzer et al. 1999).”
Result
A Study on the Psychological Wound of COVID-19 in University Students
Padrón, I., Fraga, I., Vieitez, L., Montes, C., & Romero, E. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.589927 · Cited by 118
Prevalence and predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms among child survivors 1 year following the Wenchuan earthquake in China
Ying, L., Wu, X., Lin, C., & Chen, C. (2013) · European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry · doi:10.1007/s00787-013-0400-3 · Cited by 121
“One possible explanation of this finding is the gender difference in neuroendocrine response, which can be induced by gender-specific cognitive appraisal and coping processes in the face of traumatic events [47].”
Background
The intersection of gender and resilience
Hirani, S. A. A., Lasiuk, G. C., & Hegadoren, K. (2016) · Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing · doi:10.1111/jpm.12313 · Cited by 130
Exploring gender differences in trauma exposure and the emergence of symptoms of PTSD among incarcerated men and women
Komarovskaya, I., Loper, A. B., Warren, J. I., & Jackson, S. L. (2011) · Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology · doi:10.1080/14789949.2011.572989 · Cited by 116
“Olff, Langeland, and Draijer ( 2007 ) conducted an extensive review of the PTSD literature and concluded that common differences in trauma exposure were heightened by other factors that were more common in the life experience of the female participants (e.”
Background
Exploring adversity and the potential for growth among elite female athletes
Tamminen, K. A., Holt, N. L., & Neely, K. C. (2012) · Psychology of sport and exercise · doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.07.002 · Cited by 136
Sex differences in extinction recall in posttraumatic stress disorder: A pilot fMRI study
Shvil, E., Sullivan, G. M., Schafer, S., Markowitz, J. C., Campeas, M., Wager, T. D., Milad, M. R., & Neria, Y. (2014) · Neurobiology of Learning and Memory · doi:10.1016/j.nlm.2014.02.003 · Cited by 113
“Why women in the general population have twice the lifetime risk of PTSD as men remains unclear (Breslau & Anthony, 2007; Kessler et al., 1995; Olff et al., 2007; Tolin & Foa, 2006; Weissman et al., 2005).”
Background
Adverse childhood experiences and intimate partner aggression in the US: Sex differences and similarities in psychosocial mediation
Brown, M. J., Perera, R. A., Masho, S. W., Mezuk, B. R., & Cohen, S. A. (2015) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.02.044 · Cited by 123
“The disparities by sex in the role of mediators in the association between ACEs and intimate partner aggression may be due to differences in emotional, behavioral, and psychobiological responses to stress (Olff et al., 2007).”
Background
Witnessing images of extreme violence: a psychological study of journalists in the newsroom
Feinstein, A., Audet, B., & Waknine, E. (2014) · JRSM Open · doi:10.1177/2054270414533323 · Cited by 112
“Fourth, female gender also emerged as an independent predictor of multiple indices of psychopathology, a result that is supported by the broader psychiatric literature.(25) The present study is not without certain limitations.”

Authors: Olff, M., Langeland, W., Draijer, N., & Gersons, B. P. R.
Affiliations: Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam (NL)
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
ORCID: Olff, Miranda
Langeland, Willie
Draijer, Nel
Venue: Psychological Bulletin
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2007
Volume: 133
Issue: 2
Pages: 183-204
ISSN: 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
1939-1455
DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.133.2.183
OpenAlex: W2072944527
Semantic Scholar: cb3fabbf50ff1505b95b8ac8786ada0903601aae
Cited by: 1,058
References: 259
Citations by year: 2026: 30 · 2025: 48 · 2024: 59 · 2023: 67 · 2022: 78 · 2021: 56 · 2020: 106 · 2019: 47 · 2018: 46 · 2017: 66 · 2016: 66 · 2015: 64 · 2014: 58 · 2013: 57 · 2012: 50
FWCI: 41.82
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Pure Amsterdam UMC (publishedVersion)
Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords: post-traumatic stress disorder, gender differences, women, trauma exposure, threat perception, loss of control, social support, alcohol consumption, intrusive memories, psychobiological model, clinical practice
MeSH terms: Adaptation, Psychological, Age Factors, Cognition, Culture, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Life Change Events, Male, Oxytocin, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Sex Factors, Social Support, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Gender differences in posttraumatic stress disorder.

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks