Clinically Significant Trauma Symptoms and Behavioral Problems in a Community-based Sample of Children Exposed to Domestic Violence

This study assessed the associations of characteristics of domestic violence incidents with clinically significant levels of traumatic symptoms and behavioral problems in a socio-economically and ethnically mixed sample of 687 children participating in a community-service program for children witnessing violence. Study predictors included child/family demographic characteristics, type and chronicity of exposure, and child’s perceptions of control over the event and threat to personal safety. Outcomes consisted of traumatic symptoms and behavior problems. Results showed that perceived threat and control were associated with greater odds of clinically significant levels of several trauma symptoms (and behavior problems in the case of perceived threat) after adjusting for effects of demographic factors and violence characteristics. Child co-victimization increased odds of reaching clinically significant levels of traumatic symptoms compared to children who witnessed the event but were not victimized. Female sex and White ethnicity increased odds of specific trauma symptoms and behavior problems. Increasing age reduced odds of some trauma symptoms. Associations between predictors and one outcome measure did not generalize across the other outcome measure. Implications of study findings, and directions for future research are discussed.     

VEP验光方法在常见眼外伤矫正视力检测中的应用研究

目的通过比较VEP验光、电脑验光及主觉插片验光在检测外伤眼屈光度中的关系,探讨VEP验光方法在外伤眼矫正视力中的应用价值。方法本组实验选取各种类型眼外伤患者,伤后3～6月经检查存在视力下降者61人(受检眼61只),分别对伤眼行电脑验光、主觉播片验光及VEP验光,比较三种验光方法所测屈光度及矫正视力之间的差异性。结果经统计学处理,VEP验光与主觉插片验光所测伤眼屈光度和矫正视力无显著性差异(P>0.05);电脑验光与主觉验光、VEP验光在球镜屈光度检查上存在显著性差异(P<0.05),在散光检查方面无明显差异(P>0.05);电脑验光所得矫正视力与主觉插片验光、VEP验光所得结果之间均存在显著性差异(P<0.05),尤其在角膜、虹膜睫状体、晶状体、玻璃体等部位损伤的受检眼中差异更为显著(P<0.01)。结论电脑验光和VEP验光均是客观的屈光检查方法,前者有方便迅速的优点,但其结果存在较大误差,特别是在屈光系统损伤的患者中误差更大,仅可作为屈光矫正的初步检查依据;而后者验光结果准确,能够反映伤眼的屈光实际情况,可以应用于法医学鉴定中的伤眼最佳矫正视力的评定。     

Childhood Sexual Abuse and HIV Risk Among Men Who Have Sex with Men: Initial Test of a Conceptual Model

Childhood sexual abuse has been associated with HIV transmission risk behavior in men who have sex with men. This study examined an adapted model that was originally developed to explain the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and HIV risk behavior among women in a sample of men who have sex with men. Men attending a large gay pride event (n=647) completed anonymous surveys that assessed demographic characteristics, childhood sexual abuse, symptoms of dissociation, trauma-related anxiety, borderline personality characteristics, hopelessness, substance use, and sexual risk behavior. A latent variable partial least squares analysis was conducted to test the interrelationships between childhood sexual abuse, exchanging sex for money or drugs, emotional disturbances, drug use, substance use in the context of sexual behavior, and sexual risk behavior. The model fit the data well and accounted for 10% of the total variance in sexual risk behavior. History of childhood sexual abuse predicted exchanging sex for money or drugs and this relationship was partly accounted for by active drug use. Substance use proximal to sexual behavior also emerged as a key factor in predicting sexual risk behavior. Findings from this study, therefore, indicate a direct association between history of child sexual abuse and high risk for HIV infection related to engaging in sex trade.     

Probable posttraumatic stress disorder in a sample of urban jail detainees

This study examined the nature and extent of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among men in a substance abuse treatment program in a large urban jail. Specifically, it explored the prevalence of probable PTSD and other psychiatric problems among jail detainees, the types of trauma detainees experienced during different phases of their lives, and how those experiences might have contributed to the development of probable PTSD. Results showed that psychiatric problems were quite serious; nearly one-quarter of the sample reported previous psychiatric hospitalization, and nearly 10% were being currently treated with psychiatric medication. In addition, 21% of the sample met the criteria for probable PTSD, a rate five times greater than that in the general population. The current study suggests that the presence of probable PTSD among male detainees should be incorporated into the creation and implementation of jail-based behavioral healthcare services, including screening, assessment, and clinical interventions. Furthermore, in-custody drug treatment programs should adopt trauma-informed strategies for all program participants as the expected standard of care.     

Dehydration-Induced alterations to sharp force trauma on Sus domesticus radii

Dehydration is a taphonomic process that affects nearly all skeletal remains, yet there is a dearth of evidence on this process within the forensic taphonomy literature. When considering the forensic implications of skeletal dehydration, a particular area of concern is sharp force trauma due to its global prominence in forensic cases. In an attempt to address these literature gaps and quantify the effects that dehydration has on skeletal elements, a controlled experiment subjected Sus domesticus (i.e., domestic pig) radii samples (n = 36) to laboratory-induced dehydration after they were inflicted with knife trauma. All samples were photographed pre- and post-dehydration; bone section and kerf mark length, width, and area were then measured from these photographs using ImageJ. Statistical analysis of pre- and post-dehydration samples showed that all measurements experienced significant (p ≤ 0.001) shrinkage, with bone sample area shrinking an average of 8.8 % and kerf mark area an average of 29.7 %. Alterations in length, width and area between the kerf marks and bone samples showed a weak, moderate, and strong correlation, respectively. These findings suggest that anthropological analysis may be affected by dehydration-induced shrinkage, highlighting the necessity of continued research into the effects of dehydration on skeletal trauma.