Trauma Exposure and Mental Health Characteristics of Incarcerated Females Self-Referred to Specialty PTSD Treatment
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.
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The observed high rates of lifetime trauma are comparable to those found in other studies with predominantly African American samples.
“Our observed high rates of lifetime trauma are comparable to those found in other studies with predominantly African American samples (12, 13).”
From Behavioral Health and Social Correlates of Reincarceration Among Hispanic, Native American, and White Rural Women (2013) · cites this paper as [13]
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Wolff, N., Frueh, B. C., Shi, J., & Schumann, B. E. (2012) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2012.06.001 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
Ford, J. D., Chang, R., Levine, J., & Zhang, W. (2013) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.beth.2012.10.003 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Willging, C. E., Malcoe, L. H., St. Cyr, S., Zywiak, W. H., & Lapham, S. C. (2013) · Psychiatric Services · doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201200120 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
“Our observed high rates of lifetime trauma are comparable to those found in other studies with predominantly African-American samples (12,13).”
- Authors
- Wolff, N., Frueh, B. C., Shi, J., Gerardi, D., Fabrikant, N., & Schumann, B. E.
- Affiliations
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- Venue
- Psychiatric Services
- Published
- 2011-08
- Volume
- 62
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 954-958
- ISSN
- 0022-1597 (ISSN-L)
- 1075-2730
- 1557-9700
- OpenAlex
- W2156513900
- Cited by
- 63
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 4.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychiatric Services (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Office of Justice Programs
- National Institute of Mental Health (P20-MH66170, P20MH066170, P30MH079920)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Migration, Health and Trauma
- Keywords
- post-traumatic stress disorder, women prisoners, trauma exposure, life events, mental illness, child sexual abuse, child physical abuse, self-referral, prison mental health services, unmet mental health needs
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Humans, Interview, Psychological, Life Change Events, Prisoners, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Rape, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Violence
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