@article{ref1,
title="Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms mediate the relationship between substance misuse and violent offending among female prisoners",
journal="Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology",
year="2016",
author="Howard, Ruth and Karatzias, Thanos and Power, Kevin and Mahoney, Adam",
volume="52",
number="1",
pages="21-25",
abstract="PURPOSE: Despite empirical evidence suggesting complex associations between psychological trauma, substance misuse, and violent offending, there is a dearth of research investigating these associations in the female prison population. <br><br>METHODS: A cross-sectional, interview-format questionnaire study was undertaken with a sample of 89 female prisoners. History of traumatic events, DSM-5 PTSD, drug use, and offending behaviour were assessed. <br><br>RESULTS: Traumatic experiences had occurred in 97.8 % of the sample, while 60.5 % met criteria for a PTSD diagnosis. The majority of the sample (70.8 %) reported using illicit drugs, and 59.6 % had committed at least one violent offence. History of drug use was significantly correlated with trauma, PTSD status, and violent offending. A mediation analysis identified an indirect effect of PTSD symptoms on the relationship between history of drug use and violent offending. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The result of our mediation analysis further highlights the importance of addressing PTSD symptoms and substance misuse, among female offenders, to help prevent violent offending.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0933-7954",
doi="10.1007/s00127-016-1293-5",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1293-5"
}