The Importance of Context: Using Social Determinants of Health to Improve Research and Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Purpose of Review: Due to the unique characteristics of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), considering the contextual factors that influence the development, maintenance, and treatment of PTSD is particularly important. Social determinants of health (SDoH) provide a transdiagnostic, comprehensive, and actionable approach to studying and accounting for contextual factors that are relevant for PTSD. While some SDoH factors have been studied previously as standalone characteristics, there are numerous gaps in the current literature regarding the associations between SDoH and PTSD. Recent Finding: This manuscript highlights existing research on the associations between SDoH and PTSD, including sociopolitical context, individual structural determinants, and intermediary determinants. The preponderance of existing research has focused on individual structural determinants (e.g., race/ethnicity, gender, education); however, a shift toward understanding intermediary determinants (e.g., living conditions, material circumstances, cultural factors, psychosocial factors) may provide stronger targets for PTSD prevention and intervention. Summary: The manuscript concludes with considerations of how understanding the associations between SDoH and PTSD, with an emphasis on intermediary determinants, has the potential to improve PTSD research and clinical care. © 2022, This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.