P osttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was first codified in DSM-III to describe the range of syndromal responses to extreme stressors. In the 17 years since the publication of DSM-III and its evolution through DSM-III-R into DSM-IV, numerous studies have shown that PTSD frequently appears after exposure to a variety of traumata, such as combat, criminal victimization, sexual assault, natural disasters, and motor vehicle accidents (1-10). Moreover, we have come to appreciate that traumata of this nature are not rare and, accordingly, that rates of PTSD in nonclinical samples and in the general population are much higher than we would have expected a mere decade ago (11-16). The net effect of this series of findings has been to enhance professional and public awareness of the pervasiveness of PTSD.Among the unresolved questions in the diagnosis and classification of PTSD is the taxonomic status and clinical importance of subsyndromal or subthreshold variants (17-19). In Vietnam veterans it has been noted that subthreshold presentations are particularly common and that persons with this so-called "partial PTSD" exhibit levels of impairment that rival those of persons with full PTSD (2,20,21). Partial PTSD has also been noted to be highly prevalent in sexual abuse survivors and other traumatized persons (22-24). While it has been recognized that subthreshold presentations of other disorders, such as depression (25) and social phobia (26), are not only prevalent but also frequently disabling, to the best of our knowledge these issues have not yet been examined with respect to PTSD in an epidemiologic sample.The goal of the present study was to administer a series of trauma probes to a community sample of men

This study tested the hypothesis that exposure to community violence, intimate partner violence, and child maltreatment independently contribute to the prediction of conduct problems over a 2-year period. Participants were a subsample of youth ages 12 to 17 years (N = 423) from the Patterns of Care study, which drew a stratified random sample of high-risk youth receiving services from public service sectors. Exposure to community violence significantly predicted conduct disorder and externalizing problems 2 years later when potential confounds were controlled. Child maltreatment predicted conduct disorder but not externalizing symptoms. Exposure to intimate partner violence was not related to either outcome. Exposure to community violence contributed to the development of conduct disorder and externalizing symptoms, even when exposure to child maltreatment or intimate partner violence was controlled. Results are discussed in terms of implications for treatment and prevention of youth conduct problems.

Background: The perinatal period provides unique opportunities to identify and intervene with the co-occurrence of perinatal depression, intimate partner violence (IPV), and substance use problems. Psychosocial screening recommended for women seen in maternal child health settings tends to target single rather than multiple risk factors; there is limited research examining the co-occurrence of these issues especially in racially and ethnically diverse women across the perinatal period. These analyses explore the relationships of sociodemographic, psychosocial, and behavioral characteristics in a large, diverse sample of women. Method: Women receiving perinatal services at routinely scheduled visits, including the 6-week postpartum visit, were recruited from 10 community obstetric/gynecologic clinics. Data were collected on perinatal depression, IPV, maternal substance use, and sociodemographic characteristics by bilingual, bicultural research assistants. Results: A total of 1868 women were screened, 1526 (82%) Latina, 1099 (58.8%) interviewed in Spanish; 20.4% (n = 382) screened positive for depressive symptoms based on an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score of 10 or above, 20.9% reported harmful drinking, 4.3% reported drug use, 23% reported substance use problems, and 3.5% reported current or recent IPV. Women who were Black, Asian, Pacific Islander, or other race/ethnicity had greater odds for depressive symptoms relative to women who were Hispanic or Latino (odds ratio [OR] = 1.81, p = 0.005). Women reporting substance use problems (OR = 2.37, p < 0.0001) and IPV (OR = 3.98, p < 0.0001) had higher odds for depressive symptoms. Conclusion: In a predominately Latina sample, 1 in 5 mothers (20.4%) screened positive for depressive symptoms and over one third (36.7%) reported one or more psychosocial issues during the perinatal period. Screening for multiple risk factors rather than just one can help clinicians tailor interventions for the successful management of psychosocial issues.

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This study examined experiences with intimate partner violence in 292 Latina women classified as U.S. born, immigrant, or migrant-seasonal workers. High lifetime rates of violence were found, with 33.9% reporting physical violence, 20.9% reporting sexual coercion, and 82.5% reporting psychological aggression. Rates of violence in the preceding year were also high, with 18.5% experiencing physical violence, 14.4% experiencing sexual coercion, and 72.6% experiencing psychological aggression. Participants' marital status and partners' substance use were associated with victimization. The present findings suggest the need for screening for intimate partner violence and associated risk factors in settings that serve Latina women.

These results confirm earlier findings of a higher rate of social phobia among relatives of probands with generalized social phobia and extend these findings by specifically indicating that it is only the generalized type (and its probable axis II counterpart, avoidant personality disorder) that occurs more often among the families of probands with generalized social phobia. Implications for subsequent genetic studies are discussed.

The purpose of this article is to identify profiles of maltreatment experiences in a sample of high-risk adolescents and to investigate the relationship between the derived profiles and psychological adjustment. Participants are 1,131 youth between the ages of 12 and 18 years involved with publicly funded mental health and social services. Information on physical, sexual, and emotional maltreatment and psychological symptoms are obtained in interviews with adolescents and their primary caregivers. Using latent profile analysis, three maltreatment profiles are identified: "sexual+physical+emotional maltreatment," "physical+emotional maltreatment," and "low maltreatment." Adolescents in the two maltreatment profiles generally have significantly higher scores on symptom scales compared with those in the "low maltreatment" profile, but scores in the two maltreatment profiles do not differ. Findings highlight the need for agencies to identify and provide appropriate intervention for youth who experience multiple types of maltreatment.

Racial/ethnic variations in clinical and service delivery characteristics among youth in public outpatient mental health services were examined using data from San Diego County mental health service programs for fiscal year 1996 to 1997 (N = 3,962). Differences in referral sources, primary diagnoses, and service types were investigated for three racial/ethnic groups (African Americans, Asian/Pacific Islander Americans, and Latinos) compared to non-Hispanic whites. Controlling for age, gender, functional impairment, and prior service use, significant differences by race/ethnicity were found for all three variables studied. Possible explanations for these variations and future directions for research are discussed.