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CHILD MALTREATMENT AS A PREDICTOR OF SUICIDE IDEATION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE RISK, AND MANUALIZED PTSD TREATMENT OUTCOME WITH JUVENILE JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUTHS

Presenters: Julian Ford

Abstract Category: Research  

Instruction Level: Advanced

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Description:  

Research on CHILD MALTREATMENT AS A PREDICTOR OF SUICIDE IDEATION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE RISK, AND MANUALIZED PTSD TREATMENT OUTCOME WITH JUVENILE JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUTHS will be reported and clinical implications will be discussed.

Abstract:

Psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are prevalent among youths involved in the juvenile justice system, however the impact on functioning and risky behavior of different forms of psychological trauma in this population is not known.

In a sample of 264 youths (73% boys) ages 10-17 years old admitted within the prior 24-72 hours to pretrial juvenile detention centers, 89% reported a history of psychological trauma, most commonly trauma secondary to loss of a close relationship or to an accident, disaster or illness.  In multivariate analyses, physical abuse, domestic violence, and traumatic neglect were independently associated with suicide ideation and both drug and alcohol abuse risk.

 The findings suggest that education and treatment models are needed to address the family and community ecologies in which multiple forms of victimization, neglect, loss, and accidental trauma may lead youths to be at risk not only for delinquency and post-traumatic stress symptoms but also for grave health risks such as suicidality and substance abuse.

Preliminary analyses from a subsequent randomized clinical trial of a trauma-specific therapeutic intervention, Trauma Affect Regulation: Guidelines for Education and Therapy (TARGET-A),with delinquent girls who meet criteria for PTSD are reported to further explore the role of different types of maltreatment as predictors of response to psychosocial treatment.