Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-x4r87 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T08:46:21.530Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Prevalence of Psychiatric Morbidity Among Remand Prisoners in Scotland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Mark Davidson ,
Martin S. Humphreys ,
Eve C. Johnstone  and
David G. Cunningham Owens
Mark Davidson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital
Martin S. Humphreys*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital
Eve C. Johnstone
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital
David G. Cunningham Owens
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital
*
Dr Humphreys, Lecturer in Forensic Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Edinburgh EH10 5HF
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background

Determining the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among remand populations has been made a priority in England and Wales. Differences in legal process and psychiatric services in Scotland make similar research there important.

Method

Demographic data were collected on 389 prisoners, the Clinical Interview Schedule was completed and cognitive function assessed.

Results

The prevalence of major psychiatric disorders was low. Less severe symptoms were more common. The sample was of average IQ, but low educational attainment. Reported drug abuse was high.

Conclusions

Few of those interviewed required hospital care, but other symptoms and drug-related problems may place heavy demands on prison medical and psychiatric services.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 167 , Issue 4 , October 1995 , pp. 545 - 548
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ammons, R. B. & Ammons, C. H. (1962) The Quick Test: Provisional Manual. Psychological Reports, 11, 111–161.Google Scholar
Elliott, C. D., Murry, D. J. & Pearson, L. S. (1983) Word Recognition Subtest of the British Abilities Scales. Windsor: NFER-Nelson.Google Scholar
Goldberg, D. P., Cooper, B., Eastwood, M. R., et al (1970) A standardised psychiatric interview suitable for use in community surveys. British Journal of Preventative and Social Medicine, 24, 18–33.Google Scholar
Gunn, J., Maden, A. & Swinton, M. (1991) Treatment needs of prisoners with psychiatric disorders. British Medical Journal, 303, 338–341.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
HMSO (1993) Review of Health and Social Services for Mentally Disordered Offenders and Others Requiring Similar Services. Vol. 4 The Academic and Research Base. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Lewis, G., Pelosi, A. J., Araya, R., et al (1992) Measuring psychiatric disorder in the community: a standardised assessment for use by lay interviewers. Psychological Medicine, 22, 465–486.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mayfield, D., McLeod, G. & Hall, P. (1974) The CAGE questionnaire: validation of a new alcoholism screening instrument. American Journal of Psychiatry, 131, 1121–1123.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Teplin, L. A. (1990) The presence of severe mental disorder among male urban detainees: comparison with the epidemiologic catchment area program. American Journal of Public Health, 80, 663–669.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, P. J. & Gunn, J. (1984) Violence and psychosis. I – Risk of violence among psychotic men. British Medical Journal, 288, 1945–1949.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Watt, F., Tomison, A. & Torphy, D. (1993) The prevalence of psychiatric disorder in a male remand population: a pilot study. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, 4, 75–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.