1545 – Inmates trauma and dissociation

Abstract

Trauma and dissociation have been shown to be prevalent among inmate population. However, despite the high rate of traumatic experiences in this population, few studies have aimed on potential links between traumatic experiences and dissociation, specially considering the types of crime. This study sought to examine the severity of dissociative and traumatic experiences, as well as relationships between types of crime, types of trauma, and dissociation.Twenty-nine inmates (mean age = 37.8 ± 10.0) were examined using the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) and the Traumatic Experiences Checklist (TEC), 12 committed property crimes and 17 crimes against people. A crime severity index (CSI) included sentence length, plus number of crimes, number of sentences, multiplied by type of crime (property crimes = 1; crimes against the person = 2). Two groups were created based on CSI mean plus one standard deviation (25.95 + 16.61): “severe crime” (17.2%), and “moderated serious crime” (82.8%).In total sample, the intensity of traumatic (7.36 ± 3.74) and dissociative (16.70 ± 14.6) experiences were high comparing with a study with a general sample (p < 0.05). Types of crimes were not associated with trauma or dissociation. Physical abuse and trauma with body threat were significantly linked to high levels of dissociation.In conclusion, traumatic and dissociative experiences are severe in inmate population. Dissociative experiences in inmates are specially linked to trauma with physical abuse and with body threat. Type of crime is not associated with trauma or dissociation.

Dissociative Experiences and Psychopathology Among Inmates in Italian and Portuguese Prisons

“…The present study aimed to address most of the controversial issues mentioned above. First, in line with previous findings (Espirito-Santo & Costa, 2013;Mitchell, 2006;Moskowitz et al, 2005;Ruiz et al, 2008;Snow & Beckman, 1996), we expected that inmates reported higher degrees of dissociative experiences than controls. Then, we sought to corroborate evidence of the relationships between dissociative and other psychiatric symptoms.…”

“…Taking a closer look at the dissociation literature, one could conclude that there is a disproportion of samples recruited, with a landslide majority of studies involving clinical, community, and student samples (e.g., Evren et al, 2013;Foote, Smolin, Kaplan, Legatt, & Lipschitz, 2006;Gutiérrez Wang, Cosden, & Bernal, 2011;Maaranen, 2008;Maaranen et al, 2005;Van IJzendoorn, 1996;Vogel, Spitzer, Barnow, Freyberger, & Grabe, 2006;Xiao et al, 2006;Yoshizumi, Murase, Murakami, & Takai, 2007), and only a handful of them addressing dissociation in offender samples (Ciulla & Caretti, 2012;Dietrich, 2003;Lancaster, Compton, White, Bowers, & Herring, 1998;Lewis, Yeager, Swica, Pincus, & Lewis, 1997;Mitchell, 2006;Ruiz, Poythress, Lilienfeld, & Douglas, 2008;Walker, 2002). Although inmates often present with higher rates of dissociative symptoms Dietrich, 2003;Espirito-Santo & Costa, 2013;McLeod, Byrne, & Aitken, 2004;Snow & Beckman, 1996), and dissociation itself has been reported as a risk factor for antisocial and violent behavior in offender populations (Dietrich, 2003;Moskowitz, 2004;Poythress, Skeem, & Lilienfeld, 2006), there is a lack of studies exploring the associations of dissociation with external correlates in these populations. Some of them (e.g., Ruiz et al, 2008;Spitzer et al, 2001) supported the relationship of dissociation with antisocial behavior and aggression, as well as with early traumatic experiences.…”

“…Some of them (e.g., Ruiz et al, 2008;Spitzer et al, 2001) supported the relationship of dissociation with antisocial behavior and aggression, as well as with early traumatic experiences. Notably, in most studies, inmate samples reached a mean score on dissociation scales equal to those of clinical samples, except those with diagnosed Dissociative Disorder (i.e., a mean score around 18; see, for example, Espirito-Santo & Costa, 2013;McLeod et al, 2004;Moskowitz, Barker-Collo, & Ellson, 2005;Ruiz et al, 2008;Van IJzendoorn, 1996). However, only a few studies have investigated the association between dissociative symptoms and psychopathological disease among inmates (Moskowitz et al, 2005).…”

“…Although inmates often present with higher rates of dissociative symptoms Dietrich, 2003;Espirito-Santo & Costa, 2013;McLeod, Byrne, & Aitken, 2004;Snow & Beckman, 1996), and dissociation itself has been reported as a risk factor for antisocial and violent behavior in offender populations (Dietrich, 2003;Moskowitz, 2004;Poythress, Skeem, & Liliane, 2006), there is a lack of studies exploring the associations of dissociation with external correlates in these populations. Some of them (e.g., Ruiz et al, 2008;Spitzer et al, 2001) supported the relationship of dissociation with antisocial behavior and aggression, as well as with early traumatic experiences.…”