• Angela Nickerson, Idan M Aderka, Richard A Bryant, Brett T Litz, and Stefan G Hofmann.
• Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiological Research and Information Center, Boston VA Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts 02130, USA. anickerson@psy.unsw.edu.au
• J Trauma. 2011 Dec 1;71(6):1821-8.

BackgroundThe pernicious individual and societal effects of exposure to violence highlight the importance of understanding factors related to trauma perpetration. Little research has investigated the phenomenon of accidental perpetration of serious injury and death, or considered the relationship between perpetration and trauma exposure.MethodsThis study uses data from the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication to examine the demographic correlates and characteristics of both intentional and accidental perpetration of trauma, as well as the relationship of these types of perpetration to exposure to traumatic events. Participants were 83 individuals who had accidentally perpetrated trauma and 120 individuals who had intentionally perpetrated trauma.ResultsFindings indicated that men were more likely than women to report having intentionally, compared to accidentally, perpetrated trauma. Intentional and accidental perpetration of trauma were both associated with high levels of psychologic disorders, although those who had intentionally perpetrated trauma were more likely to report symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder compared with those who had accidentally perpetrated trauma. Intentional perpetrators were more likely to have experienced interpersonal trauma in adulthood and childhood compared to accidental perpetrators. Interpersonal and sexual trauma was likely to precede any kind of trauma perpetration.ConclusionsFindings suggest that accidental, as well as intentional, perpetration of serious injury or death frequently occurs in the context of trauma and violence. Both types of perpetration are related to psychopathology. Potential mechanisms underlying the relationship between trauma exposure, psychopathology, and perpetration are discussed. Further research is needed to elucidate pathways from trauma exposure to perpetration and mental disorder.

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