Disentangling the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder, criminogenic risk, and criminal history among veterans.

OBJECTIVE

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is positively associated with involvement in the criminal justice system among veterans. Research that examines whether this association is confounded by risk factors ("criminogenic needs") from the risk-need-responsivity model of correctional rehabilitation can inform risk management with this population.

HYPOTHESES

We hypothesized that (a) veterans with probable PTSD would score higher on all criminogenic needs than veterans without PTSD and (b) probable PTSD would be associated with criminal history but not after accounting for criminogenic needs.

METHOD

We conducted secondary analyses of data from 341 veterans (95.3% male; 57.8% White/non-Hispanic/Latinx; M = 46.2 years) with a history of criminal justice system involvement who were admitted to mental health residential treatment. At treatment entry, participants completed interviews to assess criminal history, risk-need-responsivity-based criminogenic needs, and PTSD symptom severity. Cross-sectional analyses tested for differences between participants with and without probable PTSD on criminogenic needs and criminal history, and a multiple regression model examined the unique contributions of probable PTSD and criminogenic needs on criminal history.

RESULTS

The majority of the sample (74%, n = 251) met probable criteria for PTSD. Compared with veterans without PTSD, those with probable PTSD scored significantly higher on criminogenic needs of antisocial personality patterns, antisocial cognitions, antisocial associates, substance use, and family/marital dysfunction but did not differ on multiple indices of criminal history (Cohen's ds = 0.60-0.86). In the regression model, higher age (β = 0.52, p < .001) and higher scores on measures of antisocial personality patterns (β = 0.19, p = .04) and antisocial cognitions (β = 0.22, p = .02) were significantly associated with higher scores on a criminal history index.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that veterans with probable PTSD may score higher on a number of criminogenic needs that are known to be drivers of recidivism. An approach that integrates trauma-informed and risk-need-responsivity principles to address veterans' dynamic criminogenic and clinical needs may be critical to risk management in this population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).