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Hidden psychiatric morbidity in elderly prisoners.
1University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK.
The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science
|December 4, 2001
Summary
Elderly prisoners show high rates of psychiatric disorders, particularly depression. This highlights an urgent public health issue requiring better detection and treatment in this growing prison population.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Criminology
- Public Health
Background:
- Increasing elderly prisoner population in Western countries.
- Limited understanding of psychiatric morbidity in this demographic.
- Focus on aging incarcerated individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- Determine the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in elderly sentenced prisoners.
- Investigate mental health conditions among older inmates.
- Assess psychiatric illness in aging offenders.
Main Methods:
- Stratified sample of 203 male sentenced prisoners aged over 59.
- Study conducted across 15 prisons in England and Wales.
- Utilized semistructured standardized instruments for psychiatric illness and personality disorder assessment.
Main Results:
- Over half of elderly prisoners received a psychiatric diagnosis.
- Personality disorder and depressive illness were the most common diagnoses.
- High prevalence of mental health conditions observed.
Conclusions:
- Depressive illness prevalence was five times higher than in younger prisoners and the community.
- Underdetected and undertreated depression in elderly prisoners is a significant public health concern.
- Need for improved mental healthcare for aging inmates.