Criminal Conviction History and Psychiatric Symptom Severity in an Outpatient Trauma Clinic

Authors

• Kayling J. Beiter, LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans
• Elizabeth Whitham, LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans
• Adina Suss, LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans
• Erika Rajo, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
• Erich J. Conrad, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow

Abstract

Background: Physically traumatic injuries (PTIs) occur frequently among individuals with past criminal convictions, and PTIs often result in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression; non-treatment increases risk of crime and PTI recidivism. The objective of this study was to assess rates of PTSD and depression symptom severity before and after 6 sessions of engagement with an evidence-based outpatient trauma recovery program among cohorts with and without conviction history. Methods: Individuals who were treated for a PTI at a Level 1 Trauma Center were offered connection to the hospital’s associated outpatient trauma recovery program targeting PTSD, depression, and other mental health conditions associated with PTIs. Mental health status was assessed using the PTSD Checklist and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). A time-matched cohort of trauma patients was identified using the hospital’s trauma registry. Both groups were searched in the local county prison database for criminal conviction history. Results: A total of 72 study participants and 731 trauma registry patients were included in the final analysis. There were no differences between groups according to age (p=0.94) or race (p=0.43). Participants with a criminal conviction history experienced higher baseline PTSD (p=0.02) and depression (p=0.01); differences resolved by the sixth treatment visit. Conviction history was associated with an increase in baseline PHQ-9 score of 5.6 points. Discussion: Individuals with a criminal conviction history experienced higher depression burden than peers. However, treatment can ameliorate baseline differences and begin to correct this mental health disparity. Conclusions: Mental health services should be expanded in order to address increased depression among individuals with criminal conviction history. Future studies should examine the mechanisms of this increase relative to the general public.

DOI

10.59020/84638

Recommended Citation

Beiter, Kayling J.; Whitham, Elizabeth; Suss, Adina; Rajo, Erika; and Conrad, Erich J. (2021) "Criminal Conviction History and Psychiatric Symptom Severity in an Outpatient Trauma Clinic," Journal of the Louisiana Public Health Association: Vol. 2: No. 1, Article 8.
DOI: 10.59020/84638
Available at: https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/jlpha/vol2/iss1/8