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An examination of antecedent traumas and psychiatric comorbidity among male inmates with PTSD
Author(s) -
Gibson Laura E.,
Holt John C.,
Fondacaro Karen M.,
Tang Tricia S.,
Powell Thomas A.,
Turbitt Erin L.
Publication year - 1999
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 - 10.1023/a:1024767020280
Subject(s) - psychiatry , comorbidity , anxiety , psychology , population , clinical psychology , anxiety disorder , borderline personality disorder , mood , mood disorders , personality disorders , poison control , personality , medicine , medical emergency , environmental health , social psychology
Despite substantially higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among male inmates than among men in the general population, there is a dearth of research on PTSD among incarcerated men. The current study addresses traumatic events that precede PTSD and psychiatric disorders that are comorbid with PTSD in an inmate sample. Seeing someone seriously injured or killed, being sexually abused, and being physically assaulted were the three most commonly reported antecedent traumas to PTSD. Lifetime and current rates of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and antisocial personality disorder were elevated among inmates with a diagnosis of PTSD. Two hundred and thirteen inmates participated in the study. Sixty‐nine participants (33%) met lifetime DSM–III–R criteria for PTSD, and 45 (21%) met current criteria. The findings are compared with general population samples, and implications of the findings are discussed.