Changes in mental state associated with prison environments: a systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychology
• Public Health
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Prison environments significantly impact inmate mental health.
• Understanding the stability of mental health during incarceration is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing research on the relationship between the physical prison environment and mental state changes in prisoners.
• To understand the stability of mental health during imprisonment.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted.
• The search focused on changes in mental state related to imprisonment and the prison environment.

Main Results:

• Fifteen longitudinal studies were analyzed, identifying themes of prison regime, stage of imprisonment, and social density.
• Initial psychiatric symptoms upon reception into prison tend to improve over time.
• Larger prison size and extreme social density are linked to poorer mental states.

Conclusions:

• Significant gaps exist in research, particularly in high-quality longitudinal studies.
• While initial mental state may worsen upon entry, it improves with time.
• Overcrowding poses a substantial risk to inmate mental health services.