title: PTSD and re-offending risk: the mediating role of worry and a negative perception of other people's support.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are mainly focused on victims of trauma. Very few studies explored the links between PTSD symptoms and re-offending risk in perpetrators of violence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess the effect of PTSD symptoms on re-offending risk in prisoner populations with a focus on indirect effects of worry and a negative perception of other people's support on the relationship between PTSD and re-offending risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  75 prisoners (25 females, mean age: 44.36 years; 50 males, mean age: 34.7 years) were assessed for exposure to child abuse and neglect, PTSD symptoms, worry, a negative perception of other people's support and re-offending risk. Mediation analyses tested the indirect effects of worry and a negative perception of other people's support on the relationship between PTSD and re-offending risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  72% participants presented PTSD symptoms and 30.7% were at risk of re-offending. Mediation analyses supported the hypothesis of a mediation pathway from PTSD to worry and a negative perception of other people's support to an increased risk of re-offending.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that prisoners report high rates of PTSD symptoms; furthermore, they highlight an important relationship between PTSD and re-offending risk. Findings suggest that future research should test further the indirect effects of negative cognitive and emotional states on the relationship of PTSD and re-offending risk and explore more in depth the role of PTSD to assess and treat prisoners.
authors.affiliation: PSSRU Unit, Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ardino
authors.affiliation: C.R i.d.e.e , Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.affiliation: C.R i.d.e.e , Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Blasio
keywords: PTSD; childhood abuse and neglect; perceived social support; re-offending risk; worry