Prevalence of Depression and Other Psychiatric Disorders Among Incarcerated Youths

• NCJ Number: 199696
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 42 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2003 Pages: 477-484
• Author(s): Dina Domalanta Domalanta M.D.; William Leigh Risser M.D.; Robert Edmund Roberts Ph.D.; Jan Mary Hale Risser Ph.D.
• Editor(s): Mina K. Dulcan M.D.
• Date Published: April 2003
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

In this study, data were presented from the largest published study of psychiatric disorders among incarcerated youths to date, giving detailed information about the differences in prevalence between the sexes and among ethnic groups in a sample population of the most serious offenders in Harris County, TX.

Abstract

A recent review of the research concluded that the prevalence of serious psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents was between 7 and 12 percent. However, to date, little is known about the prevalence of clinical or psychiatric disorders among incarcerated youth. This study attempted to estimate the prevalence of selected DSM-IV psychiatric disorders among a large sample of adolescents in a juvenile detention center in Harris County, TX, compare the prevalence among European, African-American, and Latino-American adolescents, examine the degree of comorbidity of these disorders, and examine how many of these youths with psychiatric disorders had been diagnosed and treated prior to incarceration. From July through December 2000, 1,024 youths from the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center were interviewed. Participants also completed a self-administered questionnaire with questions on demographic characteristics and prior mental health care. In addition, two validated questionnaires were administered, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ). Results indicated differences in the prevalence rates of mental disorders between males and females for some disorders. Among youths from different ethnic groups, there were several differences, including a relatively low prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse in African-American compared with Hispanic or white youths. Comorbidity was common, particularly for alcohol and drug abuse among depressed or anxious youths. Relatively few youths with psychiatric disorders had been previously diagnosed prior to incarceration. Tables and references