NCJ Number
58537
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE ROLE OF THE PSYCHIATRIST INTERACTING WITH OTHER PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN THE DELIVERY OF HUMAN SERVICES TO INMATES IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE SERVICES PERFORMED BY MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN JAILS AND PRISONS ARE IN TWO CATEGORIES: PUBLIC PROTECTION SERVICES (INMATE CLASSIFICATION AND EVALUATION) AND TREATMENT SERVICES (COUNSELING, BEHAVIORAL CHANGE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, AND TREATMENT OF THE MENTALLY ILL). IT IS IMPORTANT TO DETERMINE THE KINDS OF SPECIALISTS BEST QUALIFIED BY TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE TO PERFORM THESE SERVICES. IN THE CONTEXT OF PROVIDING MEDICAL SERVICES TO INMATES, 'MENTAL ILLNESS' SHOULD BE RESTRICTED TO THE CONDITIONS KNOWN AS SCHIZOPHRENIA, MANICDEPRESSIVE PSYCHOSES, ORGANIC BRAIN DISEASE, AND ENDOGENOUS DEPRESSION, BECAUSE THESE ARE THE CONDITIONS KNOWN OR PRESUMED TO HAVE AN ORGANIC BASIS. PERSONS WITH THESE ILLNESSES, EXCEPT IN THE MOST DETERIORATED STATES, GENERALLY RESPOND TO THE MEDICAL APPROACH THROUGH THE USE OF CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC AGENTS OR OTHER ORGANIC MODALITIES. TREATMENT OF THESE ORGANIC ILLNESSES REQUIRES THE SERVICES OF A PSYCHIATRIST, LICENSED TO PRESCRIBE DRUGS. INMATES SUFFERING FROM BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS ROOTED IN OTHER THAN ORGANIC CAUSES CAN BE EFFECTIVELY HELPED BY SOCIAL WORKERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, CLERGYMEN, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS WHOSE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL IN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT, AND LIFE MANAGEMENT CAN HELP INMATES DEAL WITH ESSENTIALLY NONMEDICAL PROBLEMS. THE PSYCHIATRIC PROFESSION SHOULD WITHDRAW FROM EXCESSIVE INVOLVEMENT IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE OFFENDER, RESTRICTING SERVICES TO THE TREATMENT OF ORGANICALLY INDUCED MENTAL ILLNESS. EVEN PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING AND PERSONALITY EVALUATION OF INMATES CAN BEST BE HANDLED BY PSYCHOLOGISTS, WHO ARE SPECIFICALLY TRAINED IN SUCH MATTERS.