Title

Relationships among childhood maltreatment, trauma symptoms, and cognitive disruptions in a sample of incarcerated men

Date of Completion

January 1999

Keywords

Psychology, Clinical|Sociology, Criminology and Penology

Degree

Ph.D.

Abstract

There are currently almost two million people incarcerated in jails and prisons in the United States. With this number expected to continue to rise, more attention is being given to decreasing recidivism and to preventing individuals from entering the correctional system in the first place. This study examined childhood maltreatment, trauma symptoms, and cognitive disruptions in 169 incarcerated men between the ages of 18 and 25. Results suggest that a large number of these inmates are not receiving mental health treatment while incarcerated, despite reporting feelings, symptoms, and histories indicative of mental distress similar to those receiving treatment. No significant differences were found on measures of trauma history, trauma symptoms, and cognitive disruptions in the belief systems between those inmates referred for mental health services and those referred to the general population with no treatment. Implications for treatment are discussed, as well as suggestions for future research, in this important but neglected, population. ^

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