Clinical outcomes in a prison telepsychiatry clinic

The effectiveness of a prison telepsychiatry service was evaluated from a user perspective. Forty-five inmates (41 male, 4 female) completed the Symptom Rating Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) on three occasions, once before the teleconsultation and twice during treatment. The psychiatrist completed the Clinical Global Impression Scale--Severity Index (CGI) after each teleconsultation. Forty-nine per cent of inmates were aged under 30 years, 24% were aged between 30 and 39 years, while 27% were aged over 40 years. The inmates' mean SCL-90-R scores decreased over time, indicating less psychiatric distress. The psychiatrist reported patient improvement over time as assessed by the CGI. Telepsychiatry is an effective means of delivering mental health services to the prison population.