ABSTRACT
Objective: It is known that the negative impact of childhood traumas on the mental health of the individual is significant and leads to the emergence of many psychiatric conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between childhood trauma, violence tendency, and crime among male prisoners and inmates in prison. Methods: The study group consisted of 313 male prisoners who have been convicted of drug crimes, sexual crimes, deliberate manslaughter, and theft crimes in Mersin Anamur T type closed-open prison. Sociodemographic forms prepared by researchers, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and the Violence Tendency Scale (VTS) were used for measuring variables. Results: It was observed that there is a relationship between childhood traumas and criminal behavior in prisoners and detainees and that criminal behavior is affected by sociodemographic variables. In addition, there is a relationship between childhood traumas and violent tendencies. As the scores of individuals on emotional abuse, physical abuse, physical neglect, sexual abuse, and childhood trauma scales increased, the scores of individuals on VTS increased as well. CTQ predicts 11% of the variance of violence tendency. Conclusion: If psychiatric conditions and violence tendency of individuals with childhood trauma are detected, it will be possible for preventive actions to be taken before these people become prisoners or detainees.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Sexual functioning has received little attention as an important aspect of patient care for those who have severe mental disorders. AIM: The aim of this study is to compare sexual difficulties seen in Turkish psychiatric patients and healthy control subjects. METHODS: Study group consisted of outpatients in remission with schizophrenia (n = 84), bipolar affective disorders (n = 90), heroin addiction (n = 88), and healthy control group (n = 98). A sociodemographical data form and the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction were applied to all groups (N = 360). RESULTS: Half of the patient groups and 72.8% of control subjects reported that they had regular sexual life. The patients with heroin addiction complained about more problems in their sexual life than in the other groups. Controls (86.2%) felt more satisfied with their sexual life. Female patients with heroin addiction had statistically significant higher scores in nonsensuality subscale of Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction. Female patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder had statistically significant higher scores in vaginismus subscale than in control group. Between the groups, male patients with bipolar disorder had higher score in most of the items except noncommunication and erectile dysfunction and also had higher total score than in the controls. More men (especially with heroin addiction) thought that their illness and drugs were responsible for their sexual problems, knew the effect of the illness and drugs on their sexual life, and asked questions to their psychiatrists about the problems more than women. CONCLUSION: Patients with bipolar disorders and schizophrenia were unaware of effects of their medication on their sexual life. Finally, it was also found that clinicians in our country do not pay sufficient attention to the sexual problems of psychiatric patients.
