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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Jaime Marra, MA, Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Road, Unit 1020, Storrs, CT 06269-1020, 860-418-6653, jaime.marra@uconn.edu, Hsiu-Ju Lin, PhD, Research Division, CT DMHAS, 410 Capitol Ave MS14-RSD, Hartford, CT 06134, Linda K. Frisman, PhD, CT Dept Mental Health & Addiction Services, Research Division MS # 14 RSD, PO Box 341431, 410 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06134, and Julian Ford, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut Health Center, UCHC Psychiatry Dept. 6410, Farmington, CT 06032.

Trauma survivors are often burdened with detrimental posttraumatic outcomes, including high rates of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance abuse. Among these, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a serious and frequent outcome. This presentation will examine predictors of posttraumatic distress among low-income men and women with a history of trauma. Data for this study were obtained from a SAMHSA-funded study testing an intervention for co-occurring trauma and addictive disorders (n = 213). At baseline, 85% of participants were currently experiencing symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, including hyperarousal, reexperiencing of symptoms, and avoidance of thoughts or feelings related to the trauma. Using the Global Assessment of Individual Needs (GAIN; Chestnut Hill Systems) Traumatic Stress Index (TSI), a stepwise regression was conducted to determine which variables, including mental health, substance abuse, demographics, and age and type of trauma, predicted severity and frequency of posttraumatic distress. Regression analyses showed that age of trauma and in particular, early childhood sexual abuse (e.g., six years old and younger) significantly predicted severity of posttraumatic distress, F(5,43) = -1.99, p < .05. Contrary to our expectations, the perpetrator being known to the trauma survivor did not contribute significantly to distress. The results suggest that trauma at a very young age, regardless of the relationship to the perpetrator, may influence levels of stress into adulthood. Clinical implications of these results will be examined, including better strategies for informing parents how to help children cope with early childhood trauma.

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