Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of childhood trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder, and trauma-related comorbid diagnoses on the risk for readmission to juvenile detention among youth in a large metropolitan area (N = 1282). The following research questions were addressed: 1) Does a greater number of childhood traumas increase the risk for readmission to detention following release? 2) Does the risk for readmission differ by type of trauma? 3) Do PTSD and other co-morbid diagnoses increase the risk for readmission? and 4) What role do demographic factors play in the relationship between trauma-related variables and risk for readmission? This study utilized the screening results of 1282 youth who were voluntarily screened for PTSD, depressive symptoms and substance use during their initial intake to detention. More than half of the sample was readmitted during the three-year study period, with readmissions most likely to occur within one year of release. Returning to detention within one year was also associated with increased risk for multiple readmissions. Youth readmitted to detention were more likely to have a history of sexual abuse and problematic substance use. No other significant relationships were found between risk for readmission and trauma-related variables. Although trauma-related symptoms may be crucial targets for treatment, focusing solely on trauma exposure and traumatic stress symptoms without considering the impact of other risk factors may not be enough to decrease the likelihood of readmission for youth of color in a large urban environment.
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The research reported in this publication was supported by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under Award Number SM061202 (PI: Jennifer Havens). The authors wish to thank the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) for their ongoing collaboration with this project and Alison McCann for her contributions to this manuscript. The content reported herein is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of ACS or SAMHSA.
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Baetz, C.L., Surko, M., Bart, A. et al. The Risk for Readmission to Juvenile Detention: The Role of Trauma Exposure and Trauma-related Mental Health Disorders. Journ Child Adol Trauma (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-023-00596-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-023-00596-0