RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Prevalence of Traumas and PTSD Among Individuals Adjudicated Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity
JF Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
JO J Am Acad Psychiatry Law
FD American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
SP 194
OP 201
DO 10.29158/JAAPL.200062-20
VO 49
IS 2
A1 Guina, Jeffrey
A1 Audu, Alexandra K.
A1 Cameron, James
A1 Lemmen, Andrew
A1 Mamidipaka, Anusha
A1 Kletzka, Nicole
YR 2021
UL http://jaapl.org/content/49/2/194.abstract
AB Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common among psychiatric and criminal populations, yet there have been few studies among forensic psychiatric populations and no known studies have specifically examined insanity acquittees. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of trauma and to assess recognition of PTSD in forensic settings. Using a cross-sectional self-report survey methodology, we examined traumas, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and PTSD in insanity acquittees (n = 107). Most insanity acquittees experienced trauma (86%, averaging 11 events) and ACEs (76%, averaging 3 types). The most commonly experienced traumas were sudden death of a loved one, witnessed death or serious injury, adult physical assault, and motor vehicle accident. Women were significantly more likely to experience any ACE (especially witnessing domestic violence, household members with mental illness, emotional abuse, and emotional neglect) and adult sexual assault. PTSD prevalence was 25 percent, with 97 percent of cases being previously undiagnosed. Sexual traumas and younger age were significantly associated with PTSD. These results suggest that insanity acquittees have high levels of trauma, ACEs, and PTSD. While PTSD was about seven times more common than in previous findings in the general population, it frequently goes undiagnosed in forensic settings. Potential explanations and implications of our findings are discussed.