| SIX-MONTH PREVALENCE OF PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS:
MALES AGED 18-44 YEARS |
| |
Inmates |
Population |
Inmate/Pop |
| Any Disorder |
77% |
23% |
3.3 |
| Alcohol
Abuse |
51% |
13% |
3.8 |
| Drug
Abuse |
24% |
4% |
5.5 |
| Antisocial
Personality |
48% |
5% |
9.6 |
| Manic
Episode |
3% |
0.6% |
5.5 |
| Major
Depression |
14% |
3% |
4.1 |
| Panic
Disorder |
7% |
0.5% |
13.4 |
| Phobia |
4% |
1.7% |
2.3 |
| Obsessive-Compulsive
|
8% |
1.5% |
5.5 |
| Schizophrenia |
2% |
0.4% |
5.5 |
|
|
|
|
| Suicide
Attempt (Ever) |
23% |
3% |
7.1 |
|
|
Most
people who work in and around corrections have long ago noted the
apparent high rate of mental disorder among prisoners. This observation
was tested here by administering a structured interview, the Diagnostic
Interview Schedule to a group of prisoners (N=180) and comparing the
findings with results from the general population (N=924). Respondents
were males aged 18-44 years, resident in Edmonton, Canada. The
prisoners were incarcerated in a provincial jail for relatively minor
infractions (B & E, impaired driving, theft under $1000, etc.).
Population figures were adjusted to match the distributions for age and
marital status among the prisoners. The Table shows the proportions
from each sample with a mental disorder during the six months prior to
testing. For example, 23% of the general population showed at least one
disorder (of any kind) versus 77% among the inmates (the lifetime
figure for prisoners is 92%!). All disorders showed higher figures for
the prisoners, with the rate-ratios ranging from 2.3 for phobia to 13.4
for panic disorder. This, coupled with the high involvement in suicidal
behaviour, does not paint the picture of the cold, competent criminal
that appears in popular movies and books. Rather we have individuals
who are severely socially and psychiatrically disadvantaged, who rarely
receive appropriate treatment. It is difficult to see how this approach
to corrections helps anyone.
|