POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER AMONG INCARCERATED BATTERED WOMEN - A COMPARISON OF BATTERED WOMEN WHO KILLED THEIR ABUSERS AND THOSE INCARCERATED FOR OTHER OFFENSES

The present study examined differences in the amount and severity of s pousal violence and posttraumatic stress symptoms between incarcerated battered women who killed/seriously assaulted their abusers and batte red women incarcerated for other offenses. Additionally several risk a nd buffering variables suggested by trauma research were tested to det ermine their ability to predict present posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology. Findings revealed that battered women who kille d/seriously assaulted their batterers experienced more frequent and se vere spousal abuse than those in the comparison group. No significant group diqel-ences weve found for present PTSD symptom levels. Predicto rs of present PTSD symptomatology inclurled: childhood sexual abuse, c hildhood physical abuse, past PTSD symptomatology, length of rime elap sed since living with partner and receiving counseling in prison. The implications of the findings are discussed.