Traumatization and Mental Distress in Long-Term Prisoners in Europe

• NCJ Number: 237237
• Journal: Punishment & Society Volume: 13 Issue: 4 Dated: October 2011 Pages: 403-423
• Author(s): Manuela Dudeck; Kirstin Drenkhahn; Carsten Spitzer; Sven Barnow; Daniel Kopp; Philipp Kuwert; Harald J. Freyberger; Frieder Dunkel
• Date Published: October 2011
• Length: 21 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article investigates the prevalence of traumatization and mental distress in male European long-term prisoners.

Abstract

This article investigates the prevalence of traumatization and mental distress in a sample of 1,055 male European long-term prisoners as part of a wider study of the living conditions of prisoners serving sentences of at least 5 years in Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Spain and Sweden. Data were collected in a written survey using the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) as well as questions on attempted suicide and auto-aggressive behavior. Participants experienced a mean of three traumatic events, with 14 percent developing a Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) subsequently. In each national sample, more than 50 percent of the participants were in need of treatment because of psychological symptoms and nearly one-third had attempted suicide. (Published Abstract)