An examination of antecedent traumas and psychiatric comorbidity among male inmates with PTSD.
Despite substantially higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among male inmates than among men in the general population, there is a dearth of research on PTSD among incarcerated men. The current study addresses traumatic events that precede PTSD and psychiatric disorders that are comorbid with PTSD in an inmate sample. Seeing someone seriously injured or killed, being sexually abused, and being physically assaulted were the three most commonly reported antecedent traumas to PTSD. Lifetime and current rates of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and antisocial personality disorder were elevated among inmates with a diagnosis of PTSD. Two hundred and thirteen inmates participated in the study. Sixty-nine participants (33%) met lifetime DSM-III-R criteria for PTSD, and 45 (21%) met current criteria. The findings are compared with general population samples, and implications of the findings are discussed.
Gibson
L E
LE
University of Vermont, Department of Psychology, Burlington 05405, USA. lgibson@zoo.uvm.edu
Holt
J C
JC
Fondacaro
K M
KM
Tang
T S
TS
Powell
T A
TA
Turbitt
E L
EL
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D009511:New England; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology