Prevalence of trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms among the Icelandic population: gender and regional differences.

Aim: The primary aim of this cross-sectional study was to provide descriptive data about the lifetime prevalence of trauma exposure with a particular focus on sexual violence and natural disasters and to assess the prevalence of symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the Icelandic population. In addition, the aim was to investigate whether PTSD symptoms, trauma types and prevalence differed by gender and geographical location.

Method: A representative sample of the population between the ages of 18 and 80 years was randomly selected from the Icelandic National Registrar.