NCJ Number
187926
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 45 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2001 Pages: 214-227
Date Published
April 2001
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Data from 115 male inmates who completed the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST) on arriving at a low-security Federal correctional institution in 1998 were used to analyze the potential prevalence of alcoholism in this population and the personality and background characteristics of those with positive screen results.
Abstract
The participants completed the MAST as part of a standard psychological intake battery that included a background questionnaire, the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, Version 3 (MCMI-III), and the Conflict Tactics Scale. Results revealed that 61 percent of the inmates screened positive for alcohol problems on the MAST. Self-identified alcohol abusers were more likely to have antisocial personality patterns, anxiety disorders, domestic violence histories, and other drug abuse. Twenty-four percent had a combination of antisocial personality and low anxiety on the MCMI, suggestive of primary psychopathic disorder. Findings suggested that low-security inmates who screen positive on the MAST often present with other drug abuse problems, personality pathology, and domestic violence histories and that knowledge of these problems can potentially inform treatment efforts by mental health professionals in Federal prisons. Tables and 37 references (Author abstract modified)