Evaluation of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Component

• NCJ Number: 222464
• Author(s): Jennifer J. Zajac; Jessica DeGel; Larry Fish Ph.D.
• Date Published: September 2007
• Length: 72 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2002/2003/2004-DS/DS/DS-19/19/19-13564
• Sponsoring Agency: Pennsylvania Cmssn on Crime and Delinquency
• Corporate Author: University of Pittsburgh
• Sale Source: Pennsylvania Cmssn on Crime and Delinquency
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded on April 24, 2008

Annotation

Results are presented from an evaluation of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Residential Treatment Curriculum (PTSD RTC) to treat PTSD in female juvenile offenders, assessing the implementation of the PTSD RTC at treatment facilities with female juvenile offenders and evaluating the effect of the intervention on participants.

Abstract

Initial process-related findings include: (1) the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Residential Treatment Curriculum (PTSD RTC) is a well-developed guide for treating PTSD in female juvenile offenders; (2) the training for PTSD RTC facilitators is well-designed and thorough; and (3) for the most part, facility staff reported or anticipated implementing the PTSD groups as intended. The outcome-related findings are also promising with the main findings to include: (1) females in both the treatment and comparison groups experienced a decrease in their PTSD symptoms; however, the levels of PTSD symptoms decreased at a greater rate for the females in the treatment group and (2) females in both the treatment and comparison groups experienced a decrease in their levels of antisocial thinking and attitudes; the levels of antisocial attitudes and thinking decreased at a significantly greater rate for the females in the treatment group. The PTSD RTC began in 1999 when the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency awarded a grant to develop and implement a curriculum, the PTSD RTC to treat PTSD in female juvenile offenders. The PTSD RTC is based on the theory that PTSD and its related symptoms contribute to delinquent/criminal choices made by female juvenile offenders. In 2003, an evaluation was funded with the overall purpose to assess the implementation of the PTSD RTC at treatment facilities with female juvenile offenders and to evaluate the effect of the intervention on participants. The evaluation was designed to examine both process and outcome issues. Forty-one females were enrolled from the treatment sites and 55 females from the comparison sites. Figures, references