Which are considered modifiable risk factors for PTSD following a disaster?

Modifiable risk factors for PTSD following a disaster are those that individuals have the ability to change or influence through their behaviors, lifestyle choices, or interventions. In this context, the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs is considered a modifiable risk factor because individuals can choose to reduce or eliminate these substances from their lives. Substance use can exacerbate psychological distress and hinder recovery from trauma, making it crucial to address and modify these behaviors to enhance resilience against PTSD.

Other potential choices like existing physical health conditions and being employed do not typically fall under modifiable risk factors in the same way. Physical health conditions are often pre-existing and may not be directly changeable in the short term, while employment status can be influenced by external economic factors that are not easily altered by individual actions. High socioeconomic status, while it can provide protective factors against PTSD, is largely determined by systemic issues and personal circumstances that individuals cannot easily change on their own.