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PTSD among a treatment sample of repeat DUI offenders
Author(s) -
Peller Allyson J.,
Najavits Lisa M.,
Nelson Sarah E.,
LaBrie Richard A.,
Shaffer Howard J.
Publication year - 2010
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.20550
Subject(s) - recidivism , driving under the influence , psychiatry , comorbidity , psychology , injury prevention , clinical psychology , poison control , human factors and ergonomics , suicide prevention , medicine , medical emergency
Abstract Recent studies indicate that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most common psychiatric comorbidities among driving‐under‐the‐influence (DUI) offenders in treatment. Investigation of DUI offenders' PTSD and clinical characteristics could have important implications for prevention and treatment. This prospective study examined the demographic and clinical characteristics of repeat DUI offenders with PTSD symptoms at baseline and 1‐year follow‐up. Seven hundred twenty‐nine DUI offenders admitted to a 2‐week inpatient program participated in the study. Participants with PTSD evidenced more severe psychiatric comorbidity and reported a higher DUI recidivism rate at 1‐year than those without PTSD. This study suggests a need to address PTSD among DUI offenders, as well as to further develop methodologies for accurately reporting DUI recidivism.