title: PTSD as a mediator between lifetime sexual abuse and substance use among jail diversion participants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many of the individuals with serious mental illness involved in the criminal justice system have experienced interpersonal victimization, such as sexual abuse, and have high rates of alcohol and drug use disorders. Little attention has been paid to the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its potential role in the substance misuse of offenders with mental illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study used a path analytic framework to test the hypothesis that PTSD mediates the relationship between sexual abuse and level of alcohol and drug use among individuals (N=386) with mental illness enrolled in a multisite (N=7) jail diversion project.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sexual abuse was strongly associated with PTSD, which was in turn associated with both heavy drug use and heavy drinking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that PTSD may be an important target for jail diversion programs.
authors: Raymond G. Murphy Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1501 San Pedro SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, USA. karen.cusack@va.gov
authors: Karen J
authors: KJ
authors: Cusack
authors: Amy H
authors: AH
authors: Herring
authors: Henry J
authors: HJ
authors: Steadman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D057237:Criminals / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D008875:Middle Aged; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D055815:Young Adult