Abstract: The evidence for differences in prevalence and symptom structure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in western countries, especially U.S., was reviewed. We tired to summarize the explanation of the differences in terms of trauma exposure, socioeconomic status (SES) and cultural context. Some studies have found higher rate of PTSD among victims of Qiang than their Han counterparts after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China. Deepgoing and systematic studies are essential, in order to provide targeted interventions for different ethnic groups, as well as to gain a understanding of PTSD from the background of China.

Key words: PTSD, ethnic differences, indigenous