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Background

Survivors of violent injury exhibit high rates of mental and behavioral health problems and are high-risk for future violence and injury. Research is needed to understand how experiencing a prior injury might relate to patients’ post-injury adjustment. This study explored differences in post-injury mental and behavioral health between violently injured adults with and without a prior injury.

Methods

Violently injured patients (N= 199) were recruited from a Level 1 Trauma Center. Over half (59%) were admitted for a gunshot wound and 24% experienced a prior violent injury. Participants were predominantly Black men. They completed several validated self-report measures at bedside or soon after discharge to assess their mental and behavioral health. Hierarchical regression analyses were used (Step 1: age, sex; Step 2: history of a prior injury [prior injury= 1]).

Results

Patients with a prior injury reported higher …