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Mental disorders in female prisoners.
Christine S Tye1, Paul E Mullen
1Acute Assessment Unit, Melbourne Assessment Prison, West Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. christine.tye@forensicare.vic.gov.au
The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
|February 16, 2006
Summary
Female prisoners in Victoria exhibit significantly higher rates of mental disorders, including depression and PTSD, compared to the general community. Histories of abuse may contribute to these disparities, necessitating improved support services.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Mental health disorders are prevalent in incarcerated populations.
- Understanding these rates is crucial for targeted interventions and public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of mental disorders among women in Victorian prisons.
- To compare these rates with those in the general community.
Main Methods:
- A midnight census of female prisoners in Victoria.
- Interviews using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire (PDQ-4+).
- Examination of 12-month prevalence rates for ICD-10 disorders and personality disorders.
Main Results:
- 84% of female prisoners met criteria for a mental disorder in the past year (66% excluding drug-related disorders).
- Prevalent disorders included drug use disorder (57%), major depression (44%), PTSD (36%), and personality disorders.
- Women in prison showed significantly higher 12-month prevalence rates for most disorders compared to community samples.
Conclusions:
- Female prisoners have substantially higher rates of mental disorders than women in the community.
- Past abuse may be a significant contributing factor to the high prevalence.
- Enhanced assessment and treatment resources are urgently needed for this population.