An examination of antecedent traumas and psychiatric comorbidity among male inmates with PTSD

Despite substantially higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among male inmates than among men in the general population, there is a dea rth of research on PTSD among incarcerated men. The current study addresses traumatic events that precede PTSD and psychiatric disorders that are como rbid with PTSD in an inmate sample. Seeing someone seriously injured or kil led, being sexually abused, and being physically assaulted were the three m ost commonly reported antecedent traumas to PTSD. Lifetime and current rate s of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and antisocial personality disorder were elevated among inmates with a diagnosis of PTSD. Two hundred and thir teen inmates participated in the study. Sixty-nine participants (33%) met f indings 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.