TY - JOUR
T1 - The association between trauma experienced during incarceration and PTSD outcomes
T2 - a systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Piper, Alicia
AU - Berle, David
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2019/9/3
Y1 - 2019/9/3
N2 - Incarcerated people often experience victimisation and trauma. Whilst the occurrence of Potentially Traumatic Events (PTEs) withinduring incarceration is acknowledged, little empirical research has examined PTEs that occur during incarceration and their association with PTSD. The current systematic review and meta-analysis sought to explore the association between PTEs during incarceration and PTSD, summarise key characteristics of the existing literature and understand the extent to which specific PTEs and participant characteristics are associated with PTSD. Six studies met the review inclusion criteria. Overall, studies reported high rates of PTEs during incarceration and found significant positive associations between PTEs, including victimisation and abuse, solitary confinement and coercion experienced within incarceration and PTSD outcomes (r = 0.32). Surprisingly, time spent incarcerated and pre-incarceration mental health concerns were not significantly associated with PTSD. The results of this review highlight the detrimental psychological effects of PTEs experienced during incarceration. The associations highlighted underline the need for trauma-informed care and eradication of PTEs within the prison environment. However, there remains a need for methodologically robust studies, in order to increase understanding of the PTSD-related consequences that may arise from incarceration and to optimise the post-release adjustment of prisoners.
AB - Incarcerated people often experience victimisation and trauma. Whilst the occurrence of Potentially Traumatic Events (PTEs) withinduring incarceration is acknowledged, little empirical research has examined PTEs that occur during incarceration and their association with PTSD. The current systematic review and meta-analysis sought to explore the association between PTEs during incarceration and PTSD, summarise key characteristics of the existing literature and understand the extent to which specific PTEs and participant characteristics are associated with PTSD. Six studies met the review inclusion criteria. Overall, studies reported high rates of PTEs during incarceration and found significant positive associations between PTEs, including victimisation and abuse, solitary confinement and coercion experienced within incarceration and PTSD outcomes (r = 0.32). Surprisingly, time spent incarcerated and pre-incarceration mental health concerns were not significantly associated with PTSD. The results of this review highlight the detrimental psychological effects of PTEs experienced during incarceration. The associations highlighted underline the need for trauma-informed care and eradication of PTEs within the prison environment. However, there remains a need for methodologically robust studies, in order to increase understanding of the PTSD-related consequences that may arise from incarceration and to optimise the post-release adjustment of prisoners.
KW - Incarceration
KW - PTSD
KW - posttraumatic stress
KW - prison
KW - review
KW - trauma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85068905572&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/14789949.2019.1639788
DO - 10.1080/14789949.2019.1639788
M3 - Article
SN - 1478-9949
VL - 30
SP - 854
EP - 875
JO - Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology
JF - Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology
IS - 5
ER -