Most youths in detention have one or more psychiatric disorders ( 1 ). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the more prevalent disorders in detention facilities, affecting at least one in ten youths ( 2 , 3 , 4 ). One of the more debilitating aspects of PTSD is its tendency to co-occur with other psychiatric disorders ( 5 , 6 , 7 ). In a community sample, Giaconia and colleagues ( 8 ) found that nearly four-fifths of persons with lifetime PTSD also had one or more additional psychiatric disorders. Studies of detained adolescent males in Russia ( 9 ) and detained adolescent females in Australia ( 10 ) found that all of the detainees with PTSD had at least one comorbid disorder.

It is unclear whether PTSD increases the vulnerability to other disorders or whether there are common genetic or environmental factors underlying the disorders ( 5 , 11 ). Researchers agree, however, that comorbid disorders have an adverse impact on the prognosis and treatment of individuals with PTSD. Youths with PTSD and comorbid disorders have significantly more behavioral and health problems and more impaired interpersonal relationships than those with PTSD and no comorbid disorders ( 5 ).

Effective treatment planning for detained youths with PTSD requires epidemiological data on patterns of prevalence and comorbidity. Yet to our knowledge no epidemiological study of detainees in the United States has examined PTSD and comorbid psychiatric disorders. In this study we administered standardized diagnostic measures to a large, stratified random sample of detained youths. We compared the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among juvenile detainees with and without PTSD. We also compared the prevalence of PTSD among youths with and without other psychiatric disorders.

Methods

Participants and Sampling Procedures

Participants were part of the Northwestern Juvenile Project, a longitudinal study of 1,829 youths ten to 18 years of age who were arrested and detained between 1995 and 1998 at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in Chicago. The random sample was stratified by sex, race or ethnicity (African American, non-Hispanic white, or Hispanic), age (ten to 13 years or 14 years and older), and legal status (processed as a juvenile or as an adult) to obtain enough participants to examine key subgroups (for example, females, Hispanics, and younger children).

Interviewers described the study to participants and obtained written informed assent if participants were younger than 18 years or consent if they were 18 years or older. The Northwestern University Institutional Review Board, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Institutional Review Board, and the U.S. Office of Protection From Research Risks approved the study and waived parental consent, consistent with federal regulations regarding research with minimal risk. We nevertheless tried to contact parents or guardians to provide them information and offer them an opportunity to decline participation. Despite repeated attempts to contact a parent or guardian, for 44% of the participants, none could be found. In lieu of parental consent, youth assent was overseen by an independent participant advocate representing the interests of the participants. Federal regulations allow for a participant advocate if parental consent is not feasible.

We began collecting data on PTSD 13 months after the larger study began because this was when the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, version IV (DISC-IV) module was available for use. PTSD data were collected for 898 youths. A total of 532 (59%) were male, and 366 (41%) were female. A total of 490 (55%) were African American, 154 (17%) were non-Hispanic white, 252 (28%) were Hispanic, and two (<1%) were of another race or ethnicity. Participants ranged in age from ten to 18 years (mean±SD age, 14.8±1.4 years; median age, 15 years). Additional information on our methods is published elsewhere ( 1 , 2 ).

Measuring PTSD and Comorbid Disorders

Independent, master's-level clinical research interviewers administered the DISC-IV to assess past-year PTSD by using DSM-IV criteria. The DISC 2.3, the most recent version available when the study began, was used to assess comorbid psychiatric disorders in the past six months based on DSM-III-R criteria. Our data were based on the youths' self-reported data because it was not feasible to interview caretakers. We chose the PTSD module of the DISC-IV because it is the most widely used diagnostic instrument for child and adolescent research ( 12 ); it is relatively brief, it can be administered by nonclinicians, and it is designed to assess youths who have been traumatized and those who have not.

The PTSD module assesses whether youths have ever experienced any of eight traumatic experiences. These include having been in a situation where youths thought they or someone close to them was going to be hurt very badly or die; had been attacked physically or beaten badly; had been threatened with a weapon; were forced to do something sexual that they did not want to do; had been in a bad accident; had been in a fire, flood, tornado, earthquake, or other natural disaster where they thought they were going to die or be seriously injured; had seen or heard someone get hurt very badly or be killed other than on television or in the movies; or had been very upset by seeing a dead body or pictures of a dead body of someone they knew well.

Participants then identify the event that was "the most difficult for you in your entire life." The DISC assesses PTSD diagnosis within the past year for this "worst" trauma. Because the diagnosis of PTSD by the DISC requires that the symptoms last at least one month, PTSD could not have been caused by the stress of the current incarceration.

PTSD could not be determined for four females because of missing data. Other diagnostic information was not available for one female. One male and one female were excluded from analyses because they self-identified as "other" race or ethnicity. All available data from the 891 remaining participants are used for analyses. Of these, 13 participants (seven males, six females) were missing from the category any disorder, six (four males, two females) were missing from the category affective disorder, seven (three males, four females) were missing from the category anxiety disorder, three (one male, two females) were missing from the category attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or behavioral disorder, 14 (seven males, seven females) were missing from the category any substance use disorder, 14 (five males, nine females) were missing from the category drug use disorder, 14 (six males, eight females) were missing from the category alcohol use disorder, and 27 (11 males, 16 females) were missing from the category both alcohol and drug use disorder.

Because we stratified our sample by sex, race or ethnicity, age, and legal status, we weighted all prevalence estimates to reflect the population of the detention center. All reported inferential tests were corrected for design characteristics with Taylor series linearization by using the survey estimation procedures of Stata SE statistical software, version 9.0. We conducted tests of prevalence rates between groups with logistic regression using an adjusted Wald F statistic.

Results

Prevalence of Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders

Among the participants with PTSD, 93% had at least one comorbid psychiatric disorder; however, among the participants without PTSD, 64% had at least one comorbid psychiatric disorder (odds ratio [OR]=7.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]=3.2–16.5, p< .001). Among participants with PTSD, 54% had two or more types of comorbid disorders—that is, affective, anxiety, behavioral, or substance use disorder—and 11% had all four types of comorbid disorders.

Tables 1 and 2 show the prevalence and odds ratios of psychiatric disorders among participants with and without PTSD. Males with PTSD had significantly greater odds than males without PTSD of having any comorbid psychiatric disorder, anxiety disorder, and drug use disorder ( Table 1 ). Both males and females with PTSD had significantly greater odds of having any substance use disorder, alcohol use disorder, and both alcohol and drug use disorders than those without PTSD ( Tables 1 and 2 ). Having PTSD did not significantly increase the odds of having an affective or behavioral disorder for either males or females. The prevalence of any comorbid psychiatric disorder was significantly greater for males with PTSD than that for females with PTSD (OR=3.4, CI=1.1–10.6, p<.05) (Tables 1 and 2).

Prevalence of PTSD

Table 3 shows that among males, having any psychiatric diagnosis, including any affective, anxiety, behavioral, or substance use disorders, significantly increased the odds of having comorbid PTSD, compared with those with no other psychiatric disorder. Among females, only alcohol use disorder and both alcohol and drug use disorders significantly increased the odds of having PTSD ( Table 4 ). No significant difference in prevalence rates of PTSD was found between males and females with specific psychiatric disorders (Tables 3 and 4).

Discussion

Juvenile detainees with PTSD almost invariably have a comorbid disorder. In this study over half had two or more types of comorbid disorders. The prevalence rate of drug use disorder—the most common comorbid disorder among youths with PTSD—is two to three times higher than rates of drug dependence found in a sample of high school seniors with PTSD ( 8 ). Rates of PTSD among the detainees with substance use disorders in this study are also similar to or higher than rates among youths with substance use disorders receiving psychiatric or substance use treatment ( 13 , 14 ).

Although comorbidity is a significant problem for both male and female detainees with PTSD, males were more likely to have comorbid disorders than females. Similar findings were reported among adults in the National Comorbidity Survey ( 15 ); however, the opposite pattern was reported in a sample of chemically dependent adolescents ( 13 ). This gender difference warrants further study.

Our findings may pertain only to youths in urban detention centers with similar demographic composition. Because it was not feasible to interview caretakers, our data are subject to the reliability and validity of youths' self-report; however, youths and their caretakers have been found to provide comparable reports of youths' anxiety disorders ( 16 ). The DISC-IV—like most measures of PTSD—uses the single-worst trauma as the stem question; hence, we were unable to estimate the age at onset of PTSD. Finally, our rates might differ somewhat if we had been able to use DSM-IV instead of DSM-III-R criteria to measure comorbid disorders.

Conclusions

Our findings have implications for the treatment of PTSD among at-risk youths. First, detection of comorbid PTSD among detained youths must be improved. PTSD is often missed, even in psychiatric settings ( 17 ), because traumatic experiences are rarely included in standard screens or volunteered by patients ( 6 ). Screening should also determine the relative onset of disorders, which may indicate which disorder should be the primary target for treatment.

Second, the treatment ramifications of comorbid disorders should be considered. Even brief psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions for detainees with PTSD must address comorbid disorders, especially substance use disorders. Detoxification or withdrawal from substances can worsen the symptoms of PTSD ( 6 ). Exploration of traumatic experiences—a common psychotherapeutic tool for treatment of PTSD—may worsen symptoms of comorbid mood disorders or precipitate self-medication and relapse for those in recovery ( 6 ). Medication management requires special attention to potential for abuse and drug interactions ( 7 , 18 ). Finally, the high-risk behaviors associated with certain psychiatric disorders, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, mania, and substance use disorder ( 13 , 19 ), may increase the likelihood of experiencing additional traumas.

Juvenile detainees typically remain in facilities for only two weeks before release ( 20 ). Hence, their mental health needs must be addressed by community psychiatry as well as correctional service systems. The treatments most likely to succeed will address past traumas and the diagnostic complications that often follow.

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High Prevalence of Psychiatric Comorbidity Among Juvenile Detainees with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Many Young People in Detention with PTSD Also Have Psychiatric Co-Morbidities

Introduction

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly prevalent among youths in detention facilities, with at least 10% affected [2-4]. A significant concern is the frequent co-occurrence of PTSD with other psychiatric disorders [5-7], potentially complicating prognosis and treatment [5]. This study investigates the prevalence and patterns of comorbid psychiatric disorders among a large, representative sample of juvenile detainees with PTSD in the United States.

Methods

Participants and Sampling Procedures

This study utilizes data from the Northwestern Juvenile Project, a longitudinal study involving 1,829 youths (10-18 years old) detained at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in Chicago between 1995 and 1998. A stratified random sample of 898 youths with PTSD data was analyzed. Stratification ensured representation across sex, race/ethnicity, age, and legal status.

After receiving informed assent/consent from participants and ethical approval, data collection commenced 13 months into the study upon availability of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, version IV (DISC-IV) PTSD module. Written informed assent was obtained from participants younger than 18 years old, while those aged 18 years or older provided consent. Parental consent was waived by institutional review boards due to minimal risk, though efforts were made to contact parents/guardians.

Measuring PTSD and Comorbid Disorders

Master's-level clinical research interviewers used the DISC-IV to assess past-year PTSD based on DSM-IV criteria. Comorbid psychiatric disorders within the past six months were assessed using the DISC 2.3, based on DSM-III-R criteria. Reliance on youth self-report was necessary due to feasibility constraints.

The DISC-IV PTSD module screens for eight traumatic experiences and focuses on the "worst" trauma to diagnose past-year PTSD. The one-month symptom duration criterion for PTSD diagnosis ensured exclusion of incarceration-related stress as a causal factor.

Prevalence estimates were weighted to reflect the detention center population. Logistic regression with adjusted Wald F statistics tested prevalence rate differences between groups, accounting for design characteristics through Taylor series linearization using Stata SE statistical software (version 9.0).

Results

Prevalence of Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders

A striking 93% of participants with PTSD also presented with at least one other psychiatric disorder, significantly higher than the 64% observed among participants without PTSD (OR = 7.3, 95% CI = 3.2–16.5, p < .001). Notably, 54% of those with PTSD had two or more comorbid disorder types (affective, anxiety, behavioral, or substance use), and 11% presented with all four.

Tables 1 and 2 provide detailed prevalence rates and odds ratios for specific disorders by PTSD status and sex. Male detainees with PTSD were significantly more likely to exhibit any comorbid psychiatric disorder, anxiety disorder, and drug use disorder compared to their counterparts without PTSD. Both males and females with PTSD showed significantly elevated odds of any substance use disorder, alcohol use disorder, and comorbid alcohol and drug use disorders. The presence of PTSD did not significantly influence the likelihood of affective or behavioral disorders in either sex.

Prevalence of PTSD

Tables 3 and 4 illustrate how specific psychiatric diagnoses impacted the likelihood of co-occurring PTSD. Among males, any psychiatric diagnosis significantly increased the odds of PTSD. For females, only alcohol use disorder and combined alcohol and drug use disorders were significantly associated with increased PTSD odds. No significant sex differences emerged in PTSD prevalence rates within specific psychiatric disorder categories.

Discussion

This study highlights the almost ubiquitous presence of comorbid psychiatric disorders among juvenile detainees with PTSD, exceeding rates observed in community and clinical samples [8,13,14]. The substantial prevalence of drug use disorder as a comorbid condition warrants particular attention, suggesting the need for targeted interventions.

The observed sex differences in comorbidity patterns, with males exhibiting higher rates, are consistent with some previous findings in adults [15] but contrast with others in adolescents [13], underscoring the need for further investigation.

Study limitations include the potential generalizability of findings beyond similar urban detention center populations, reliance on youth self-report, use of a single-worst trauma assessment, and potential discrepancies arising from different DSM editions for comorbidity assessment.

Conclusions

These findings emphasize the critical need for improved PTSD detection and integrated treatment approaches for at-risk youth. Screening tools should incorporate trauma-informed inquiries and assess the temporal relationship between disorders to guide treatment prioritization. Interventions for detainees with PTSD, even if brief, must address co-occurring disorders, particularly substance use, considering potential exacerbations of PTSD symptoms during detoxification or withdrawal. Additionally, exploring traumatic experiences during therapy requires careful consideration of potential impacts on comorbid mood disorders or relapse risk. Medication management necessitates vigilance for abuse potential and drug interactions. Lastly, the association of certain disorders with high-risk behaviors highlights the importance of mitigating further trauma exposure.

Given the short average detention duration [20], collaborative efforts between correctional and community mental health systems are essential to address the complex needs of these youths. Successful interventions will require a holistic approach that acknowledges and addresses the interplay of past traumas and their associated diagnostic complexities.

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High Rates of Mental Disorders Found in Detained Youth with PTSD

Introduction

Many young people in detention centers struggle with mental health disorders, and post-traumatic stress Disorder (PTSD) is especially common, impacting about 1 in 10. A particularly challenging aspect of PTSD is its tendency to occur alongside other mental health problems. This means a young person might experience PTSD along with anxiety, depression, or substance use issues. Research shows that when PTSD exists with other disorders, it can significantly impact a person's ability to get better and function well. This article presents findings from a study conducted in the United States that investigated PTSD and its co-occurrence with other mental health disorders among young people in detention.

Methods

Participants and Sampling

The study involved 1,829 youth aged 10 to 18 held at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in Chicago. These young people were part of a larger, ongoing research project called the Northwestern Juvenile Project. Researchers made sure to include diverse groups of young people in the study by considering their gender, race, age, and legal situation. The study began in 1995, but data specifically about PTSD wasn't collected until 13 months later when the appropriate assessment tool became available. Ultimately, information about PTSD was gathered from 898 youth.

Participation in the study was voluntary, meaning the young people chose to be involved. Researchers explained the study and obtained written permission from those over 18 and from the parents or guardians of younger participants. If contacting a parent or guardian was impossible, an advocate who could act in the best interests of the youth oversaw the process.

Assessing PTSD and Other Disorders

Trained interviewers used a specialized tool called the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC-IV) to determine if participants met the criteria for PTSD based on the DSM-IV (a manual used by mental health professionals). The DISC helps determine if a young person has experienced potentially traumatic events and if they have PTSD symptoms as a result. The interviewers also used a version of the DISC to identify other mental health disorders the youth might have experienced within the past six months.

Results

Prevalence of Co-Occurring Disorders

The study found that 93% of youth with PTSD also struggled with at least one other mental health disorder. This is a much higher rate compared to youth without PTSD, where 64% had another disorder. The most common co-occurring disorder was drug use, followed by alcohol use. The study also revealed that having PTSD significantly increased the likelihood of experiencing anxiety and substance use problems in boys. While not statistically significant, PTSD was also associated with other mental health issues in girls.

Prevalence of PTSD

The findings also highlighted that having other mental health disorders, especially involving substance use, increased the likelihood of also having PTSD. This was particularly evident in boys. Interestingly, there were no notable differences between boys and girls in the rates of PTSD when considering specific mental health disorders.

Discussion

This study underscores the critical issue of co-occurring disorders in detained youth diagnosed with PTSD. These findings suggest that screening for PTSD in this population is essential, especially given that traumatic experiences are often not part of routine assessments. Early detection is crucial for providing appropriate and effective treatment.

Treatment for PTSD in this group needs to consider the presence of other disorders and the potential impact they may have on the treatment process. This is particularly important when addressing substance use, as withdrawal symptoms can exacerbate PTSD. It's also important to note that exploring traumatic experiences, a common element of PTSD therapy, can negatively affect other mental health conditions if not approached carefully.

Conclusions

This study highlights that PTSD is a significant concern among young people in detention, and it frequently occurs alongside other mental health challenges. These findings underscore the need for:

• Improved detection: Mental health professionals working within the juvenile justice system need to be vigilant in screening for PTSD, especially since it's often under-diagnosed.

• Integrated treatment: Treatment plans for detained youth with PTSD must address any co-occurring disorders, particularly substance use, to increase the likelihood of success.

Given that these young people are often released back into the community after a short time, it's crucial for both correctional and community mental health services to collaborate effectively. This coordinated approach ensures these vulnerable youth receive the ongoing support and treatment necessary for their well-being.

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Psychiatric Disorders Common in Detained Teens, Especially PTSD

Introduction

Many young people in detention centers have mental health disorders. One of the most common is PTSD, which affects at least 1 in 10 teens in these facilities. PTSD is especially challenging because it often occurs alongside other mental health problems. Studies have shown that a large percentage of people with PTSD also experience other disorders, like depression or anxiety. This is true for teens in detention centers too, where studies have found that every teen with PTSD also had at least one other mental health disorder.

Experts aren't sure if PTSD makes someone more likely to develop other disorders or if there are shared causes for these conditions, but they do know that having more than one disorder makes treatment and recovery much harder. Teens with PTSD and other disorders tend to have more behavioral issues, health problems, and difficulty maintaining relationships.

To effectively help these teens, it's important to understand how common these disorders are and how they relate to each other. However, there hasn't been much research on this topic in the United States. This study aimed to address this gap by examining PTSD and other mental health issues in a large group of detained youth.

Methods

Who participated, and how were they selected?

The young people in this study were part of a larger project focused on 1,829 youth aged 10 to 18 who were detained at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in Chicago between 1995 and 1998. The researchers made sure to include a diverse group of teens by considering factors like gender, race, age, and legal status.

Before participating, the teens were told about the study and asked to agree to be a part of it. Those under 18 provided written assent, while those 18 and older gave consent. While parental consent was waived due to the nature of the study, researchers still attempted to contact parents or guardians to inform them about the research and offer them a chance to withdraw their child. However, contact could not be established for 44% of the participants despite repeated attempts. In these cases, an independent advocate ensured the teens' rights and well-being were protected.

Data on PTSD was collected from 898 youth. The average age of the participants was 14.8 years old, with the youngest being 10 and the oldest being 18.

How were PTSD and other disorders diagnosed?

Trained interviewers used a tool called the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC-IV) to determine if the teens met the criteria for PTSD based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). The DISC-IV is a widely used and respected tool for evaluating mental health in children and adolescents.

To identify other disorders, the researchers used the DISC 2.3, which was the most recent version available when the study began. This version aligns with criteria outlined in the DSM-III-R. The teens answered questions about their experiences, and the information was used to determine if they had experienced any other mental health concerns in the past six months. The researchers chose to rely on the teens' self-reported information because interviewing caretakers was not feasible in this study.

The researchers specifically used the PTSD module of the DISC-IV for several reasons. It is a well-established tool, it can be administered by trained professionals who aren’t clinicians, and it is designed to be used with young people who have experienced trauma, as well as those who haven’t.

This module first determines whether the teens had experienced any of eight specific types of trauma. These included:

• Being in a situation where they thought they or someone close to them might be seriously hurt or killed.

• Being physically attacked or badly beaten.

• Being threatened with a weapon.

• Being forced to do something sexual they didn’t want to do.

• Being in a serious accident.

• Being in a natural disaster like a fire, flood, tornado, or earthquake where they thought they might die or be seriously hurt.

• Seeing or hearing someone being badly hurt or killed (other than on TV or in movies).

• Being deeply upset by seeing a dead body or pictures of a dead body of someone they knew well.

Teens who had experienced at least one of these traumas were then asked to identify the event that was the "most difficult" for them in their whole life. The DISC-IV helped determine if they had PTSD in the past year related to this “worst” trauma. Since a PTSD diagnosis requires symptoms to last at least one month, the researchers could be sure that the PTSD wasn’t solely due to the stress of being detained.

Because the researchers had thoughtfully designed their study to include groups of teens with different characteristics, they used statistical methods to make sure their findings accurately reflected the larger population of teens in the detention center.

Results

How common were other disorders in teens with PTSD?

The study found that 93% of the teens with PTSD also had at least one other mental health disorder. In comparison, 64% of the teens without PTSD had at least one other disorder. This shows that having PTSD significantly increases the likelihood of having other mental health challenges.

Among the teens with PTSD, more than half had two or more types of disorders, such as depression, anxiety, behavioral issues, or substance use problems. Alarmingly, 11% had all four types.

What specific disorders were most common?

The study found that:

• Males with PTSD were much more likely to have anxiety and drug use disorders than males without PTSD.

• Both males and females with PTSD were significantly more likely to have substance use problems (including alcohol and drugs) than those without PTSD.

• Having PTSD did not seem to increase the chances of having depression or behavioral disorders for males or females.

• Males with PTSD were more likely to have other disorders compared to females with PTSD.

Did having other disorders make PTSD more likely?

The study also looked at whether having other mental health disorders made it more likely for a teen to have PTSD. The results showed that:

• For males, having any other mental health disorder made it significantly more likely that they also had PTSD.

• For females, only alcohol use disorder and having both alcohol and drug use disorders significantly increased the chances of having PTSD.

• There was no significant difference in PTSD rates between males and females who had specific disorders.

Discussion

This study highlights that PTSD is a serious problem for teens in detention centers, and it almost always occurs alongside other mental health disorders. The fact that more than half of the teens with PTSD had two or more additional disorders is particularly concerning. The rates of drug use disorders in this study were much higher than what's typically seen in high school students with PTSD.

While both boys and girls with PTSD in this study experienced high rates of other disorders, boys were more likely to have these co-occurring issues. This difference between genders needs to be further explored.

It is important to note that these findings may only apply to teens in similar detention centers and might not represent all young people with PTSD. Since the study relied on the teens' self-reports, there's a chance that some information might not be completely accurate.

Conclusions

This study provides valuable insights into the mental health needs of detained youth. First, it highlights the importance of identifying PTSD in these teens, as it’s often missed or overlooked. When assessing for PTSD, it's important to consider whether other mental health disorders are also present and to figure out which problem emerged first. This can help guide treatment decisions.

Second, it emphasizes that any treatment plan for teens with PTSD in detention centers must address their other mental health conditions, particularly substance use disorders. This requires careful consideration, as addressing trauma can sometimes worsen symptoms of other disorders or lead to relapse. Medications must also be carefully managed to prevent abuse and harmful interactions. Additionally, mental health professionals should be aware that certain disorders, like ADHD or substance use disorders, can increase the likelihood of experiencing more trauma.

Since young people are often only detained for short periods, it’s crucial that their mental health needs are addressed both within the detention center and in the community after their release. Effective treatment approaches should address past trauma and any other mental health issues they might be facing.

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Many Troubled Teens in Detention Centers Also Suffer From PTSD

Introduction

Many young people in detention centers have mental health problems. One of the most common problems is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD happens when someone goes through something scary or dangerous that makes them feel afraid or unsafe. Imagine something really bad happening that you saw or were a part of, like a car accident or a fire. Afterward, you might have bad dreams about it or feel scared all the time. That's kind of what it's like to have PTSD. Many kids in detention centers have PTSD, and it can make it hard to feel happy and safe.

One of the hardest things about PTSD is that it often happens alongside other problems, like depression, anxiety, or trouble with drugs. This makes it even harder to treat. To help these kids, it's important to understand how common PTSD is and how it affects them.

The Study and Its Purpose

Nobody has studied PTSD and other mental health problems in kids in detention centers in the United States. So, a group of scientists decided to study this in a big city. They wanted to learn how many kids in detention have PTSD and what other problems they might have.

How They Did It

The scientists studied kids between 10 and 18 years old who were in a big detention center in Chicago. They made sure to include boys and girls, kids of different races and ages, and kids who were in trouble with the law in different ways.

Before the study started, the researchers talked to the kids about the study and asked them if they wanted to be a part of it. Since the kids were young, the researchers also tried to talk to their parents or guardians to explain the study and get their permission. However, it was hard to find the parents of many of the kids.

How They Were Diagnosed

The researchers talked to each kid one-on-one and asked them questions to figure out if they had PTSD. They also asked questions about other problems the kids might have, like feeling sad or anxious a lot, having trouble paying attention, or using drugs and alcohol. They used special lists of questions to make sure they were diagnosing everyone in the same way.

The Results

Almost all of the kids with PTSD (93%) also had at least one other mental health problem. More than half of them (54%) had two or more other problems. This tells us that PTSD rarely happens alone.

The study also found:

• Boys with PTSD were more likely to have other mental health problems than girls with PTSD.

• Kids with PTSD were more likely to use drugs and alcohol.

The study also looked at kids who had other mental health problems, like feeling sad, anxious, or hyperactive, or having trouble with drugs and alcohol. They found that these kids were also more likely to have PTSD.

Conclusion

This study tells us that PTSD is a big problem for kids in detention centers. Many of these kids have other problems on top of PTSD, which makes it even harder for them to get better. The researchers said it's really important to figure out which kids have PTSD so they can get the help they need. They also said that treatments need to be created that can help with PTSD and other problems at the same time.

This study helps us understand the challenges faced by kids in detention centers. By learning more about these challenges, we can work to make things better for these kids and help them grow up to have healthy and happy lives.

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