Posttraumatic stress disorder in a Swiss offender population.

Questions Under Study: Various studies have repeatedly shown an increased prevalence for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in delinquents when compared with the general population. Lifetime prevalence varies between 33% and 36%, and point prevalence between 17% and 21%. The aim of this study was to examine whether these findings are applicable to offenders detained in Switzerland.

Methods: The sample consisted of 86 offenders. In order to control for over-reporting of traumatic life events three sub-samples (remand, sentenced/inpatient and sentenced/outpatient) administered by the Office of Corrections of the Canton of Zurich were examined. PTSD was diagnosed using the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS), a self-rating instrument for diagnosing PTSD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Version IV (DSM-IV).

Results: Point prevalence of PTSD was conservatively estimated at 27%. The three sub-samples did not differ in the prevalence of PTSD when adjusted for potential demographic differences. Seventy-five percent of the subjects had experienced at least one traumatic event that matched the criteria for a traumatic event according to the DSMIV. The Median number of traumatising life events according to the PDS was four in the examined sample.

Conclusions: In this sample of male prisoners in Switzerland the prevalence of current PTSD was comparable to other international studies. The limitations and implications of these findings were discussed.