Preliminary data on the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Brazilian male and female juvenile delinquents

Abstract

The aim of the present investigation was to study the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in a sample of delinquent adolescents of both genders and to compare the prevalence between genders. A total of 116 adolescents (99 males and 17 females) aged 12 to 19 on parole in the State of Rio de Janeiro were interviewed using the screening interview based on the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children -Present and Lifetime (KSADS-PL). Data were collected between May 2002 and January 2003. Of 373 male and 58 female adolescents present in May 2002 in the largest institution that gives assistance to adolescents on parole in the city of Rio de Janeiro, 119 subjects were assessed (three of them refused to participate). Their average age was 16.5 years with no difference between genders. The screening interview was positive for psychopathology for most of the sample, with the frequencies of the suggested more prevalent psychiatric disorders being 54% for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, 77% for conduct disorder, 41% for oppositional defiant disorder, 57% for anxiety disorder 57, 60% for depressive disorder 60, 63% for illicit drug abuse, and 58% for regular alcohol use. Internalizing disorders (depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and phobias) were more prevalent in the female subsample. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of illicit drug abuse between genders. There were more male than female adolescents on parole and failure to comply with the sentence was significantly more frequent in females. The high prevalence of psychopathology suggested by this study indicates the need for psychiatric treatment as part of the prevention of juvenile delinquency or as part of the sentence. However, treatment had never been available for 93% of the sample in this study.

Psychiatric problems and suicidal behaviour in incarcerated adolescents in the Islamic Republic of Iran

“…More than two-thirds of incarcerated adolescents had at least 1 psychiatric disorder [5]. Similar high prevalence rates have been reported from the Netherlands, Canada, Belgium, Denmark and Brazil [2,4,6,15,16], (Table 1). For example, the study from Canada reported that 63% of incarcerated adolescents had at least 2 psychiatric disorder [4], while the study from the Netherlands reported that 90% of their subjects had at least 1 disorder [2].…”

“…For example, the study from Canada reported that 63% of incarcerated adolescents had at least 2 psychiatric disorder [4], while the study from the Netherlands reported that 90% of their subjects had at least 1 disorder [2]. In Brazil the rates were 54% for ADHD, 77% for conduct disorder and 41% for oppositional defiant disorder [16].…”

Prevalence of Mental Disorders and Recidivism in Young Offenders

“…Although our results in general show similarities regarding the prevalence of anxiety, depression and the abuse of substances with other studies of young offenders with mental health problems (Andrade, Assumpção, Teixeira, & Silva, 2011;Andrade, Silva, & Assumpção, 2004;Pinho et al, 2006), this is the fi rst time that a comparison between primaries and recidivist offenders has been conducted. This is a relevant point as it may at once help to shed light on the permanent discussion of whether mental disorders are a cause or a consequence of incarceration.…”

Caracterización de personalidad de mujeres adolescentes infractoras de ley: un estudio comparativo

“…Ellas tienen necesidades diferentes de las de sus pares masculinos pues con frecuencia han sufrido experiencias de maltrato, abuso infantil y explotación, muchas veces perpetradas por familiares cercanos; muchas de ellas serán jefas de hogar solteras con todas las implicaciones de pobreza y dificultades parentales que ello conlleva; presentan baja autoestima, con alta incidencia de conductas suicidas (Lenssen, Doreleijers, Van Dijk, & Hartman, 2000;McCabe, Lansing, Garland, & Hough, 2002). Además, se reporta que presentan mayor prevalencia de trastornos mentales en general -84% con respecto al 27% registrado en sus pares varones -(Timmons-Mitchell e cols., 1997), particularmente en los trastornos mentales internalizados (Andrade, Silva, & Assumpção, 2004).…”