title: Civilian PTSD symptoms and risk for involvement in the criminal justice system.
abstract: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has received considerable attention with regard to the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In studies of veterans, behavioral sequelae of PTSD can include hostile and violent behavior. Rates of PTSD found in impoverished, high-risk urban populations within U.S. inner cities are as high as in returning veterans. The objective of this study was to determine whether civilian PTSD is associated with increased risk of incarceration and charges related to violence in a low-income, urban population. Participants (n = 4,113) recruited from Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, completed self-report measures assessing history of trauma, PTSD symptoms, and incarceration. Both trauma exposure and civilian PTSD remained strongly associated with increased risk of involvement in the criminal justice system and charges of a violent offense, even after adjustment for sex, age, race, education, employment, income, and substance abuse in a regression model. Trauma and PTSD have important implications for public safety and recidivism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Drive, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
authors.forename: Sachiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Donley
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Habib
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jovanovic
authors.forename: Asante
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamkwalala
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Evces
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: Bekh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Kerry J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ressler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007298:Insanity Defense; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011329:Prisoners / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014505:Urban Population; D014754:Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult