IMPACTS OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER ON MENTAL HEALTH: INTERSECTIONS BETWEEN STRESS, TRAUMA, RISK FACTORS, AND THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES

Abstract

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health problem associated with exposure to traumatic events that threaten an individual’s physical or emotional integrity. This article aims to reflect on and deepen the understanding of the impact of PTSD on mental health, integrating psychological, biological, and social dimensions, as well as discussing risk factors, protective elements, and available therapeutic strategies. It is a narrative literature review based on books, national and international scientific articles, clinical guidelines, and institutional documents from organizations such as the World Health Organization. Databases such as SciELO, PubMed, and Google Scholar were consulted, selecting studies on stress, trauma, PTSD, resilience, social support, and psychotherapeutic and pharmacological interventions. The results indicate that excessive stress and trauma, especially when early or repeated, have profound effects on psychological and neurobiological functioning and may trigger PTSD, characterized by trauma re-experiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal, and cognitive, affective, and behavioral changes. Individual, contextual, and occupational risk factors, as well as lack of adequate social support, increase vulnerability to the disorder, whereas resilience, affective bonds, and support networks act as protective factors. Evidence supports the relevance of integrative therapeutic approaches, involving psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and complementary practices, combined with public policies and prevention strategies aimed at reducing psychological distress, preventing chronicity, and promoting quality of life.