Using Baseline Data to Predict Chronic PTSD 48-months After Mothers Report Intimate Partner Violence: Outcomes for...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Trauma Studies

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects one in three women globally, often leading to long-term mental health issues like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
• Children exposed to domestic violence are at increased risk for behavioral problems, including internalizing and externalizing symptoms.
• Early identification of women at risk for chronic PTSD is crucial for effective intervention and improved outcomes for both mothers and children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a PTSD predictor tool for identifying mothers at risk of experiencing chronic PTSD symptoms.
• To assess the long-term impact of maternal PTSD on children's behavioral health.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of the PTSD predictor tool in a cohort of mothers and children affected by IPV.

Main Methods:

• A PTSD predictor tool was applied to PTSD symptom scores of 245 mothers four years after receiving assistance for IPV.
• Mother-child dyads were followed for four years, with data collected on maternal PTSD symptoms and children's behavioral problems.
• Statistical analyses, including chi-squared tests, were used to determine the association between predicted risk and actual PTSD symptom scores, and to calculate relative risks for child behavioral issues.

Main Results:

• The PTSD predictor tool demonstrated good performance, accurately identifying mothers at risk for chronic PTSD.
• Mothers predicted to be at extreme risk for chronic PTSD reported symptoms at or above the diagnostic level at 48 months post-intervention.
• Children of mothers with PTSD had a 2.07 to 2.30 times greater risk for borderline/clinical range behavioral problems (Externalizing and Internalizing, respectively).

Conclusions:

• The developed PTSD predictor tool is effective in identifying mothers at risk for chronic PTSD.
• Maternal PTSD significantly increases the risk of behavioral problems in children exposed to domestic violence.
• The tool can aid in the triage and referral of women at risk for chronic PTSD, facilitating access to appropriate mental health interventions.