New study reveals high burden of PTSD in Kenya and opens genetic insights into trauma

A monumental study has revealed that Kenyan adults face a high burden of trauma exposure, with more than half of participants showing probable signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The findings, released during a dissemination event for the Genetics of PTSD in African Ancestry Populations (GPAA) study hosted by the Aga Khan University’s Brain and Mind Institute (BMI), shed new light on one of Africa’s most pressing and often overlooked mental health challenges. The study aimed to expand knowledge of the genetic make-up of PTSD in African populations, strengthen research capacity in Kenya, reduce stigma, and contribute to the first large, well-powered genome-wide study of PTSD in individuals of African ancestry.