Post-Traumatic Bio-Behavioral Rehabilitation of Adult Female Victims.

Objective: To determine if low resting basal AM cortisol and flat diurnal cortisol slope that has been reported in female abuse victims, which is dysregulated in the same way in female violent perpetrators, could be corrected and if healthier diurnal cortisol patterns are associated with less aggression in adult female victims.

Design And Methods: A non-experimental, naturalistic study evaluated if bio-behavioral rehabilitation could occur for females living in a Delaware homeless mission and participating in their programs. Basal salivary cortisol (AM, PM & slope), aggression, neurological conditions, general health, alcohol use, having been a victim of abuse, religion, spirituality and forgiveness were evaluated over one month between 2018 and 2019.

A Pilot Study on Sleep Quality, Forgiveness, Religion, Spirituality, and General Health of Women Living in a Homeless Mission.

This cross-sectional pilot study evaluated associations between religion/spirituality, forgiveness, sleep, and health, which were all highly correlated for adult women living in a homeless mission. While causation cannot be determined, these findings help to provide a theoretical framework for studies with stronger designs, prospective measurements, and larger sample sizes.

Neurobiology of Female Homicide Perpetrators.

Neurobiology of female homicide perpetrators is not well understood. Data from private interviews and examinations of females were re-analyzed comparing those who committed homicide ( = 9); other violent crimes, no known homicide ( = 51); nonviolent crimes, no known violent convictions ( = 49); and noncriminals ( = 12). Homicide perpetrators suffered the most childhood sexual abuse (CSA); most recent abuse; had the most neurological histories, mainly traumatic brain injuries (TBIs); most health care access for abuse-related injuries; lowest AM and PM salivary cortisol; and greatest proportion who committed crime under the influence of alcohol.

Risk Factors for Women Being Under the Influence of Alcohol Compared With Other Illicit Substances at the Time of Committing Violent Crimes.

Purpose: We investigated women under the influence of alcohol compared with other illicit substances at the time of committing a crime to identify predictors of being under the influence of alcohol and female-enacted crime.

Methods: Analyses of data, obtained from private interviews and examinations of female prison inmates, included regression analyses exploring predictors of being under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crime and predictors of violent crime. In addition, a reanalysis of a previously reported model, predicting conviction of a violent crime, was conducted including a new variable, being under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crime.

Female children with incarcerated adult family members at risk for lifelong neurological decline.

A secondary analysis of data from adult female prison inmates in the mid-Atlantic United States defined relationships between having incarcerated adult family members during childhood and neurological outcomes. Of 135 inmates, 99 (60%) had one or more incarcerated adult family members during childhood. Regression analyses revealed that having incarcerated adult family members was related to greater frequency and severity of childhood abuse and higher incidence of neurological deficits in adulthood, especially related to traumatic brain injuries, compared to those without incarcerated adult family members.

Childhood adversity, mental health, and violent crime.

Background: Little is understood about childhood traumatic brain injury (TBI) and lifetime violent crime perpetration.

Objectives: The purpose was to evaluate TBI before the age of 15 years and other childhood environmental factors, mental health, and lifetime history of committing a violent crime.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 636 male and female offenders from a southeastern state prison population was conducted using Chi-squared tests, t tests, and logistic regression to determine factors associated with ever committing a violent crime.

Could spirituality and religion promote stress resilience in survivors of childhood trauma?

Trauma is a precursor to many mental health conditions that greatly impact victims, their loved ones, and society. Studies indicate that neurobiological associations with adverse childhood experiences are mediated by interpersonal relationships and play a role in adult behavior, often leading to cycles of intergenerational trauma. There is a critical need to identify cost effective community resources that optimize stress resilience.

Ethical, regulatory, and investigator considerations in prison research.

Although numbers of prison inmates are increasing rapidly, limited research addresses health-related conditions prevalent in prisons. Compelling reasons exist for prison research to address high rates of psychiatric, neurological, and other health-related conditions that may precipitate or result from incarceration, high-risk behaviors, infectious disease transmission, traumatic brain injuries, and other issues related to incarceration. Prison research is critical because inmates are frequently re-incarcerated and released, posing potential risks to themselves and the community.

Childhood sexual abuse by a family member, salivary cortisol, and homicidal behavior of female prison inmates.

Background: Little is understood about neuropathophysiology and neuroendocrinology associated with childhood sexual abuse by a family member in females who commit homicide.

Objectives: To determine if females sexually abused by a family member as a child also experienced more childhood physical abuse, had more neurological histories including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), displayed more homicidal behaviors, and had abnormal diurnal variation in the stress hormone cortisol compared with females not sexually abused by a family member.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 137 female inmates, including 9 murderers and 12 noncriminal females, with logistic regression statistical analysis comparing females who have (n = 60) and have not (n = 89) been sexually abused by a family member, as determined by Muenzenmaier's Childhood Abuse Scale.

Neurological function and HIV risk behaviors of female prison inmates.

The purpose of this study was to explain relationships between neurological dysfunction, HIV serological status, and HIV risk behaviors that have not been well understood. A secondary analysis was conducted on data from 117 female prison inmates. Another 18 female inmates from the same prison were further evaluated with more specific neurological, neuropsychological, and HIV risk behavior Risk Assessment Battery (RAB) measures.

Neurological correlates of high-risk behavior: a case study of Alphonse Capone.

Neurological impairment, traumatic brain injury, and childhood trauma and abuse are all associated with violent and high-risk behaviors among prison inmates. This case study examines the medical history of a notorious criminal--Alphonse Capone. Records suggest an association between Capone's declining neurological condition and an increase in high-risk behaviors.

Women behind bars: could neurobiological correlates of past physical and sexual abuse contribute to criminal behavior?

Trauma, especially physical and sexual abuse inflicted by others, is often part of the personal histories of female prison inmates. These traumatic events have also been associated with neuropsychiatric conditions commonly found in female inmate populations. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of the literature and research findings about physical and sexual abuse perpetrated against female prison inmates predating their crimes, the neurobiological correlates, and related factors that could have contributed to criminal behaviors.

Physical and sexual abuse, salivary cortisol, and neurologic correlates of violent criminal behavior in female prison inmates.

Background: Both physical and emotional traumas have been related to neurologic and neuroendocrine abnormalities that may be associated with violent behavior.

Methods: A modified case-control design was used for blinded comparison of 113 female inmates convicted of violent and nonviolent crimes. History of having been physically or sexually abused, neurologic history and physical examination, basal salivary cortisol levels, and associated variables were investigated to identify possible risk factors for violent compared to nonviolent criminal convictions.