Prevalence, severity, and risk factors of post-traumatic stress disorder among Palestinian women diagnosed with breast cancer: Cross-sectional study

Breast cancer leads to significant psychological distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We determined the prevalence, severity, and risk factors of PTSD among women diagnosed with breast cancer. This cross-sectional study evaluated PTSD symptoms in 218 women with breast cancer who were recruited using convenience sampling from two oncology facilities. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire that included sociodemographic, clinical characteristics, and DSM-5 (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist, PCL-5). The prevalence of PTSD was 38%, and the mean (PCL-5 score ⩾33) was 28.7 (±12.4), ranging from 6 to 76. Around half of the participants have mild symptom severity. The findings showed that higher PTSD symptom severity was significantly associated with younger age, low education, refugee camp residence, advanced cancer stage, undergoing mastectomy, and receiving chemotherapy ( p < 0.05). PTSD was widespread, and this finding has stressed the necessity for frequent PTSD screening and trauma-informed psychosocial assistance in Palestinian oncology treatment.