[Mental diseases and disorders among inmates in Norwegian prisons]

Surveys of serious mental disorders in prisons in the western world show high prevalences; on average 4% with psychosis, 10% with major depression, and 65% with personality disorders among male inmates. A few investigations in Norwegian prisons indicate a similar tendency.

With participation from prisons with 2850 inmates of a national total of 3000 (95%), we recorded prevalence and severity of psychiatric illnesses, other behavioural disorders, and treatment facilities available during the term served. We asked four vocational groups in each prison to reply, independently of each other, to ten semi-structured questions about these items. The groups were: prison management, guards, affiliated primary health services, and affiliated psychiatric services.

Guards reported the highest prevalences, followed by the primary health services, then prison management; the lowest prevalence was reported by the psychiatric services. 23.5% of inmates received some kind of treatment for psychiatric disorders.

On a national scale, the average prevalence estimates for psychosis and major depression seem somewhat lower than in international surveys. Reasons for the differences in reported estimates among the vocational groups are discussed. The groups seem to have given pragmatic numbers for what they consider to be "first needs".