Assessment of depression and anxiety after exposure to psychological trauma among females in Jordan: A cross-sectional study

Patients who have been exposed to psychological trauma during their lifetime, regardless of the severity of the trauma, are more likely to experience depression and anxiety. However, there are limited data on the prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders among females after exposure to trauma in Jordan. This is a cross-sectional study using an online survey that was conducted between the start of April 2025 and the end of June 2025. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaires were used to evaluate depression and anxiety after exposure to psychological trauma. A total of 1025 females participated in this study. The most reported type of trauma was death or loss of a loved one (38.6%), followed by betrayal trauma (27.1%) and sexual or physical assault (12.0% and 11.9%, respectively). Most participants had experienced trauma for 1 to 3 years (33.0%). Despite high levels of reported trauma, only a small fraction sought psychological help; 62 respondents (6.0%) sought psychological help for anxiety, and 59 (5.8%) for depression. Psychiatric medication was used by 183 participants (18.5%), but 113 (61.7%) of them reported no improvement. The majority (68.3%) stopped their medication mainly due to side effects (56.8%) and high costs (40.8%). In addition, higher education levels, such as holding a bachelor's degree, were associated with lower odds of anxiety (adjusted odds ratio = 0.4, 95% confidence interval: 0.3-0.7, P < .001) and depression (adjusted odds ratio = 0.6, 95% confidence interval: 0.4-1.0, P = .038). This study suggests that factors affecting depression are often unresolved grief or loss, a history of trauma, and chronic stress. Furthermore, people suffering from trauma and emotional and social problems are more likely to develop anxiety and depression than others. Also, a few people with depression or anxiety see psychiatrists. Patients who used psychiatric medications reported no improvement and discontinued their treatment due to side effects and the high cost of the medication. Moreover, people with higher levels of education are less likely to develop anxiety.