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Abstract

Objectives:

This study examined the traumatic and stressful event exposure history and psychiatric health characteristics of soon-to-be released female inmates who self-referred to specialty posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment.

Methods:

The final sample (N=209) included female prison inmates aged 18 or older who were assessed for trauma exposure and axis I disorders with standardized clinical instruments.

Results:

The rate of serious mental disorders was high. Presence of psychiatric disorders was significantly associated with a history of traumatic event exposure and full or subthreshold PTSD, and high rates of overall traumatic event exposure (88%) and childhood sexual or physical trauma (74%). Descriptive profiles of specific lifetime traumatic and stressful events were associated with psychiatric disorders.

Conclusions:

Findings suggest strong behavioral effects associated with lifetime traumatic and stressful event histories and indicate major psychiatric health care needs among female prison inmates that are likely unmet by existing services. (Psychiatric Services 62:954–958, 2011)

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Table 1 Trauma characteristics by type of axis I mental disorder category among soon-to-be-released female inmates

Information & Authors

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Published In

Go to Psychiatric Services
Go to Psychiatric Services
Cover: The South Gorge, Appeldore, Isles of Shoals, by Childe Hassam. Oil on canvas, 22¼ × 18 inches. Collection of the Newark Museum, Newark, New Jersey. Photo credit: the Newark Museum/Art Resource, New York.
Psychiatric Services
Pages: 954 - 958
PubMed: 21807837

History

Published online: 1 August 2011
Published in print: August 2011

Authors

Details

Nancy Wolff, Ph.D. [email protected]
Dr. Wolff, Ms. Shi, Ms. Fabrikant, and Ms. Schumann are affiliated with the Center for Behavioral Health Services and Criminal Justice Research, Rutgers University, 176 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 (e-mail: [email protected]).
B. Christopher Frueh, Ph.D.
Dr. Frueh is with the Department of Psychology, University of Hawaii, Hilo.
Jing Shi, M.S. [email protected]
Dr. Wolff, Ms. Shi, Ms. Fabrikant, and Ms. Schumann are affiliated with the Center for Behavioral Health Services and Criminal Justice Research, Rutgers University, 176 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 (e-mail: [email protected]).
Douglas Gerardi, Ph.D.
Dr. Gerardi is with the Office of Policy and Planning, New Jersey Department of Corrections, Trenton.
Nicole Fabrikant, M.S.W. [email protected]
Dr. Wolff, Ms. Shi, Ms. Fabrikant, and Ms. Schumann are affiliated with the Center for Behavioral Health Services and Criminal Justice Research, Rutgers University, 176 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 (e-mail: [email protected]).
Brooke E. Schumann, M.Phil. [email protected]
Dr. Wolff, Ms. Shi, Ms. Fabrikant, and Ms. Schumann are affiliated with the Center for Behavioral Health Services and Criminal Justice Research, Rutgers University, 176 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 (e-mail: [email protected]).

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