Psychological symptomatology in a prison population: an exploratory study of age, psychopathological history and time in prison  <span class="so-article-trans-title" dir="auto"> Translated title: Sintomatología psicológica en población reclusa: un estudio exploratorio en relación a la edad, el historial psicopatológico y el tiempo en prisión </span>

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Abstract

Objectives

Identify psychological symptoms relating to age, psychopathological history and time in prison in women and men incarcerated in a prison.

Material and method

Cross-sectional study. The sample was made up of 100 inmates, 50 men and 50 women and the symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) was used to assess psychopathological symptoms.

Results

This study shows that inmates with a psychopathological history prior to entry to prison, younger inmates (18-29 years) and inmates who have been a short time in prison present more psychopathological symptoms.

Discussion

The results found suggest the implementation of a protocol for psychological care of prisoners in general, but highlights a particular interest in the care of cases with people with a psychopathological history prior to entering prison, in those who are younger and those who have been in prison for a short time.

Resumen

Objetivos

Identificar la sintomatología psicológica en relación a la edad, el historial psicopatológico y el tiempo en prisión en

mujeres y hombres recluidos en un centro penitenciario.

Material y método

Es un estudio de corte transversal. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 100 reclusos, 50 hombres y 50 mujeres. Para evaluar la sintomatología psicopatológica, se utilizó el cuestionario de 90 síntomas revisado (SCL-90-R, symptom checklist-90-revised).

Resultados

Este estudio muestra que los reclusos con historial psicopatológico previo al ingreso en prisión, los reclusos más jóvenes (18-29 años) y los que llevan menos tiempo en prisión, presentan en mayor medida síntomas psicopatológicos.

Discusión

Los resultados encontrados sugieren la implementación de un protocolo de atención psicológica de los reclusos en general, pero resalta un interés particular en la atención de casos con personas con antecedentes psicopatológicos previos al ingreso en prisión, en aquellos más jóvenes y aquellos que llevan poco tiempo de ingreso.

Related collections

Most cited references 36

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Severe mental illness in 33,588 prisoners worldwide: systematic review and meta-regression analysis.

Katharina Seewald, Katharina Seewald (2012)

High levels of psychiatric morbidity in prisoners have been documented in many countries, but it is not known whether rates of mental illness have been increasing over time or whether the prevalence differs between low-middle-income countries compared with high-income ones. To systematically review prevalence studies for psychotic illness and major depression in prisoners, provide summary estimates and investigate sources of heterogeneity between studies using meta-regression. Studies from 1966 to 2010 were identified using ten bibliographic indexes and reference lists. Inclusion criteria were unselected prison samples and that clinical examination or semi-structured instruments were used to make DSM or ICD diagnoses of the relevant disorders. We identified 109 samples including 33 588 prisoners in 24 countries. Data were meta-analysed using random-effects models, and we found a pooled prevalence of psychosis of 3.6% (95% CI 3.1-4.2) in male prisoners and 3.9% (95% CI 2.7-5.0) in female prisoners. There were high levels of heterogeneity, some of which was explained by studies in low-middle-income countries reporting higher prevalences of psychosis (5.5%, 95% CI 4.2-6.8; P = 0.035 on meta-regression). The pooled prevalence of major depression was 10.2% (95% CI 8.8-11.7) in male prisoners and 14.1% (95% CI 10.2-18.1) in female prisoners. The prevalence of these disorders did not appear to be increasing over time, apart from depression in the USA (P = 0.008). High levels of psychiatric morbidity are consistently reported in prisoners from many countries over four decades. Further research is needed to confirm whether higher rates of mental illness are found in low- and middle-income nations, and examine trends over time within nations with large prison populations.

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Influence of environmental factors on mental health within prisons: focus group study.

Rebecca J. Ormsby, John P Woodcock, Jo Nurse (2003)

To increase understanding of how the prison environment influences the mental health of prisoners and prison staff. Qualitative study with focus groups. A local prison in southern England. Prisoners and prison staff. Prisoners reported that long periods of isolation with little mental stimulus contributed to poor mental health and led to intense feelings of anger, frustration, and anxiety. Prisoners said they misused drugs to relieve the long hours of tedium. Most focus groups identified negative relationships between staff and prisoners as an important issue affecting stress levels of staff and prisoners. Staff groups described a "circle of stress," whereby the prison culture, organisation, and staff shortages caused high staff stress levels, resulting in staff sickness, which in turn caused greater stress for remaining staff. Staff shortages also affected prisoners, who would be locked up for longer periods of time, the ensuing frustration would then be released on staff, aggravating the situation still further. Insufficient staff also affected control and monitoring of bullying and reduced the amount of time in which prisoners were able to maintain contact with their families. Greater consideration should be given to understanding the wider environmental and organisational factors that contribute to poor mental health in prisons. This information can be used to inform prison policy makers and managers, and the primary care trusts who are beginning to work in partnership with prisons to improve the mental health of prisoners.

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Prospective cohort study of mental health during imprisonment.

L Hassan, Jenny Shaw, C. Lowthian … (2010)

Mental illness is common among prisoners, but little evidence exists regarding changes in symptoms in custody over time. To investigate the prevalence and predictors of psychiatric symptoms among prisoners during early custody. In a prospective cohort study, 3079 prisoners were screened for mental illness within 3 days of reception. To establish baseline diagnoses and symptoms, 980 prisoners were interviewed; all remaining in custody were followed up 1 month and 2 months later. Symptom prevalence was highest during the first week of custody. Prevalence showed a linear decline among men and convicted prisoners, but not women or remand prisoners. It decreased among prisoners with depression, but not among prisoners with other mental illnesses. Overall, imprisonment did not exacerbate psychiatric symptoms, although differences in group responses were observed. Continued discussion regarding non-custodial alternatives for vulnerable groups and increased support for all during early custody are recommended.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Rev Esp Sanid Penit

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Rev Esp Sanid Penit

Journal ID (publisher-id): sanipe

Title: Revista Española de Sanidad Penitenciaria

Publisher: Sociedad Española de Sanidad Penitenciaria

ISSN (Print): 1575-0620

ISSN (Electronic): 2013-6463

Publication date (Electronic, collection): Jan-Apr 2021

Publication date (Electronic, pub): 31 March 2021

Volume: 23

Issue: 1

Pages: 20-27

Affiliations

[1 ] originalUniversidad Autónoma de Coahuila. Saltillo. México. normalizedUniversidad Autónoma de Coahuila orgnameUniversidad Autónoma de Coahuila Saltillo, Mexico

[2 ] originalPontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. Ambato. Ecuador. normalizedPontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador orgnamePontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador Ambato, Ecuador

Author notes

Correspondence: Verónica Molina-Coloma. E-mail: v_molina@ 123456uadec.edu.mx

Article

DOI: 10.18176/resp.00027

PMC ID: 8278166

PubMed ID: 33847702

SO-VID: 4fedcca0-3964-4978-b84e-295dd89e6292

License:

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License

History

Date received : 12 May 2020

Date accepted : 27 October 2020

Page count

Figures: 0, Tables: 4, Equations: 0, References: 33, Pages: 08

Psychological symptomatology in a prison population: an exploratory study of age, psychopathological history and time in prison Translated title: Sintomatología psicológica en población reclusa: un estudio exploratorio en relación a la edad, el historial psicopatológico y el tiempo en prisión

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Abstract

Objectives

Material and method

Results

Discussion

Resumen

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Most cited references 36

Severe mental illness in 33,588 prisoners worldwide: systematic review and meta-regression analysis.

Influence of environmental factors on mental health within prisons: focus group study.

Prospective cohort study of mental health during imprisonment.

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