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Intrusive memories and ruminations related to violent crime among young offenders: Phenomenological characteristics
Author(s) -
Evans Ceri,
Ehlers Anke,
Mezey Gillian,
Clark David M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.20204
Subject(s) - psychology , rumination , posttraumatic stress , injury prevention , suicide prevention , poison control , intrusion , clinical psychology , human factors and ergonomics , psychological intervention , psychiatry , cognition , medical emergency , medicine , geochemistry , geology
Very little is known about the nature of perpetrator's memories of violent crime. The authors conducted semistructured interviews with a representative sample of 105 young offenders convicted of serious violence, assessing intrusive memories, ruminations, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder related to their violent crime. Forty‐eight (46%) participants described significant intrusive memories of the assault, and 38 (36%) reported ruminations related to the assault. Ethnic origin and historical variables explained 19% of the variance of posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity; intrusion and rumination characteristics added an additional 48% explained variance. The intrusive memories tended to concern the moment when the event turned for the worse for the perpetrator. The findings have implications for risk assessment and therapeutic interventions for violent offenders.