Does ethnicity affect the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder, antisocial personality disorder, or traumatic events in a homeless male population?

Rachelle Yvette Edwards, Purdue University

Abstract

Research has not focused on the developmental relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) in adult populations. The current research evaluated the prevalence and comorbidity of PTSD and ASPD, and the number and types of traumatic experiences in a male homeless population (N = 110). The responses of European Americans (n = 29) and African Americans (n = 75) were compared on the following instruments: Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders-Research Version (SCID-RV; First, Gibbon, Spitzer, & Williams, 2002), Structured Interview for the DSM-IV of Personality (SIDP-IV; Pfohl, Blum, and Zimmerman, 1994), Traumatic Events Questionnaire (TEQ; Lauterbach, 1995; Vrana & Lauterbach, 1994), and Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R; Weiss & Marmar, 1997). There was a high prevalence of PTSD (30% Lifetime and 20% Current) and ASPD (35%) and relatively high prevalence of borderline personality disorder (BPD; 18%). Participants diagnosed with Lifetime PTSD or Current PTSD were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with ASPD than individuals without a diagnosis of Lifetime or Current PTSD. Participants diagnosed with ASPD were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with Lifetime or Current PTSD than individuals without a diagnosis of ASPD. Participants diagnosed with Lifetime PTSD, Current PTSD, or ASPD also were more likely to endorse more traumatic events than their counterparts. There were no ethnic differences in the rate of comorbidity of PTSD and ASPD. European Americans were significantly more likely to report experiencing a natural disaster and being a victim of physical or sexual abuse in childhood than African American participants. African Americans were significantly more likely to have witnessed someone who was mutilated, seriously injured, or violently killed than European American participants. African Americans were more likely to endorse the criteria: avoid activities, places, or people that arouse recollections of trauma; inability to recall an important aspect of trauma; and less interest in activities than European Americans. Thus, among homeless males, there appear to be relationships among PTSD, ASPD, and BPD, highlighting the need for research investigating the developmental relationship between PTSD and ASPD in adult populations. Further, investigations of ethnic group differences are warranted.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Merritt, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Psychotherapy|Minority & ethnic groups|Sociology|African Americans

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