INTRODUCTION: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by the development of symptoms such as the reexperience of traumatic events (nightmares, intrusive thoughts, somatic symptoms associated with the trauma), avoidance (trying to avoid situations, people or behaviors associated with the trauma and having difficulty in dealing with new situations and feelings) and increased arousal (insomnia, irritability, difficulty in concentrating, hypervigilance and exaggerated startle response). Being aware of the frequency of PTSD in poor communities is of paramount importance. OBJECTIVE: To identify the frequency of PTSD and the presence of depressive symptoms andalcohol abuse in a primary health care service. METHODS: The study was carried out at the Divina Providência Health Care Service, Grupo Hospitalar Conceição. Patients seen at the service were selected randomly. PTSD, depression, alcohol abuse and the sociodemographic profile of the patients were determined. RESULTS: Of the 54 patients included in the study, 83.3% were female; mean age was 39 years. Severe depressive symptoms were found in 28% of the patients; 59% fulfilled the criteria for PTSD diagnosis, and 12.5% had problems with alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients were female, and the prevalence of PTSD was high.
Posttraumatic stress disorder; primary health care; alcohol abuse
