HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Messina, N. Articles by Grella, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Messina, N. Articles by Grella, C. Related Collections Health Policy Alcohol Drugs Women's Health

Nena Messina, PhD and Christine Grella, PhD

Nena Messina and Christine Grella are both with the University of California, Los Angeles Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Los Angeles.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Nena Messina, PhD, Criminal Justice Research Group, UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, 1640 S. Sepulveda Blvd, Ste 200, Los Angeles, CA 90025 (e-mail: nmessina{at}ucla.edu).

Objectives. We sought to describe the prevalence of childhood traumatic events among incarcerated women in substance abuse treatment and to assess the relation between cumulative childhood traumatic events and adult physical and mental health problems.

Methods. The study was modeled after the Adverse Childhood Events study’s findings. In-depth baseline interview data for 500 women participating in the Female Offender Treatment and Employment Program evaluation were analyzed.

Results. Hypotheses were supported, and regression results showed that the impact of childhood traumatic events on health outcomes is strong and cumulative (greater exposure to childhood traumatic events increased the likelihood of 12 of 18 health-related outcomes, ranging from a 15% increase in the odds of reporting fair/poor health to a 40% increase in the odds of mental health treatment in adulthood).

Conclusions. Our findings suggest a need for early prevention and intervention, and appropriate trauma treatment, within correctional treatment settings.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. Messina, C. Grella, W. Burdon, and M. Prendergast Childhood Adverse Events and Current Traumatic Distress: A Comparison of Men and Women Drug-Dependent Prisoners Criminal Justice and Behavior, November 1, 2007; 34(11): 1385 - 1401. [Abstract] [PDF]