Evaluating childhood and adulthood victimization as predictors of psychotic disorders: findings from a nationwide study of women in jail

Incarcerated women experience high rates of childhood victimization and adulthood interpersonal violence, which have been identified as risk factors for psychotic-spectrum disorders. This study included 491 women in jail, who completed structured diagnostic interviews and questionnaires concerning past victimization. Interpersonal violence in adulthood was a significant mediator of the association between childhood victimization and 12-month prevalence of any psychotic disorder. These findings demonstrate the importance of assessing victimization in childhood and adulthood relative to psychosis among women in jail.