Offending behaviour: the role of trauma and PTSD

Research indicates an interlink between traumatic experiences and criminal behaviour (Ardino, 2011; Foy, Furrow & McManus, 2011; Weeks & Widom, 1998, 1989) revealing that offenders present a higher prevalence of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD; APA, 1994) and associated symptoms when compared with the general population (Wright, Borrill, Teers & Cassidy, 2006). Available studies, however, rarely present data about specific trajectories that connect trauma and PTSD to criminal behaviour. This thematic cluster of articles ‘‘Offending behaviour: the role of trauma and PTSD’’ aims to explore such trajectories and post-traumatic mechanisms in offenders. (Published: 20 July 2012) Citation: European Journal of Psychotraumatology 2012, 3 : 18968 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v3i0.18968