Psychological Disturbance in the Scottish Prison System: Prevalence, Precipitants and Policy

• NCJ Number: 156776
• Author(s): D J Cooke
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 169 pages
• Corporate Author: Scottish Prison Service
• Sale Source: Scottish Prison Service
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Scottish Prison Service Occasional Papers Report No. 3/1994.

Annotation

This analysis of mental disorders among prison inmates in Scotland concludes that the overall rate of psychological disturbance is substantially higher than that in the general population, especially the rates of depression, alcoholism, and drug dependence.

Abstract

However, few inmates have schizophrenia or psychosis, probably because inmates with these disorders are transferred to hospitals. More than half the female inmates have experienced major depression at some time of their lives, almost half meet clinical criteria for drug dependence, and one-fifth meet criteria for alcoholism. Among males, two-fifths meet criteria for alcoholism, although they experience less depression and drug dependence than female inmates. Overall, the rate of mental disorders, excluding drug dependence, alcoholism, and personality disorders, is twice as high as in the general population. More than half the inmates have more than one disorder. Although the majority of the disorders begin before prison, the manner in which correctional personnel handle staff appears to be a critical determinant in the maintenance of distress and disorder. Psychological disturbance rated by correctional personnel, using a new rating scale developed in the study, was shown to predict future offending in prison. Figures, tables, appended diagnostic and treatment information, and approximately 250 references