Trauma history in a high secure male forensic inpatient population

There is an increasing focus on trauma within forensic services. This study aimed to investigate exposure to trauma among a high secure male forensic population. Based on the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and the Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ) data capture sheets were developed. Patients' own offending behaviour was included as a source of potential trauma. Records for all patients placed within the hospital (n = 194) were reviewed. All patients had been exposed to a traumatic event over the lifespan, with 75% having been exposed to trauma during childhood. Sixty-five percent of patients had experienced more than one type of trauma during childhood; the mean number of trauma types experienced during this period being 2.31. In adulthood 63% had been exposed to one trauma type while 29% had been exposed to two or more trauma types. No significant difference was found between those with and those without childhood trauma histories on hospital variables including admission length, seclusion and incidents. The implications of these results in the context of adopting a trauma informed care approach to treatment in forensic settings are discussed, and recommendations for future clinical and research directions are made.