Gender differences in recovery from posttraumatic stress disorder: A critical review

Men and women are exposed differentially to violence and trauma. Epidemiological study has further indicated that trauma exposure can result in disparate rates of resultant psychopathology according to gender. In particular, gender differences consistently emerge in the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the most common psychiatric diagnosis secondary to violence and other traumatic events. Despite robust findings regarding gender differences in the development of PTSD, research regarding gender differences in the recovery from PTSD has been relatively understudied. This paper seeks to assess the current state of the literature regarding gender differences in response to treatment and identify directions for future research. We reviewed the extant treatment outcome studies of PTSD to identify all studies that reported gender comparisons in treatment outcome across primary measures of PTSD symptoms, secondary outcomes of treatment, and rates of treatment attrition. The limitations of the current literature are discussed with a focus on implications for future research.

Research Highlights
► Research regarding gender differences in recovery from PTSD has been understudied.
► Of 42 RCTs including both genders, gender differences in primary PTSD outcomes were assessed in 9.
► Of the same 42 RCTs only 15 assessed gender differences in dropout rates.
► Only 2 of 35 RCTs of interpersonal assault and combat survivors included both genders.
► Data regarding gender differences in PTSD outcomes is needed to evaluate treatment effectiveness.