POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER IN INCARCERATED JUVENILE DELINQUENTS

Objective: To assess the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD) in severely delinquent subjects and to measure associated person ality characteristics. Method: Eighty-five incarcerated boys (mean age 16.6, SD = 1.2) with mostly violent offenses were studied. The sample was representative of the California Youth Authority population. They received a standard psychiatric screen, a semistructured interview fo r PTSD, and self-report questionnaires measuring personality traits an d defenses. A nonclinical sex- and age-matched group was used for comp aring psychometrics. Results: Subjects suffered from PTSD at higher ra tes than other adolescent community samples and at higher rates than t hose found in county probation camps. Thirty-two percent fulfilled cri teria for PTSD, 20% partial criteria. One half of the subjects describ ed the witnessing of interpersonal violence as the traumatizing event. Psychometric results converged in the predicted way: Subjects with PT SD showed elevated distress, anxiety, depression, and lowered restrain t, impulse control, and suppression of aggression; they had high level s of immature defenses such as projection, somatization, conversion, d issociation, and withdrawal. Conclusions: PTSD occurs at high rates in delinquents, and this finding has implications for management and tre atment. Personality characteristics that might put individuals at risk for the development of PTSD were identified.