Mental Health Among Suburban Drug Court Participants

Abstract

The issue of co-occurring disorders is of concern to the Criminal Justice field, including drug courts. To assess the potential co-occurrence of substance use- and mental health-related diagnoses, the Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire and similar instruments was administered to suburban drug court clients. Based on the screening, one quarter to one half of the 108 participants would be referred for follow-up for a mental health issue; women would be referred at a greater rate than men. There is a need to develop appropriate, brief mental health screening instruments for use in drug court settings so that clients can receive necessary services.

Systematic review of the impact of adult drug-treatment courts

“…Two studies used validated screening measures for anxiety and depression symptoms (Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory-II). Rates of moderate-severe or severe anxiety were 12%35 and 35%34. Rates of depression warranting referral were 20.4%35 and 42% 34.…”

“…Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders). Where drug court participants were recruited and mental health measures subsequently administered,33–35 between 25 and 42 percent of participants were identified as having a psychiatric illness. Two studies used validated screening measures for anxiety and depression symptoms (Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory-II).…”

“…Rates of moderate-severe or severe anxiety were 12%35 and 35%34. Rates of depression warranting referral were 20.4%35 and 42% 34. Among a subset of participants reporting a history of traumatic events, 25% screened positive for post-traumatic stress disorder 35.…”

Factors contributing to enrollment in a family treatment court

“…From a demographic perspective, a large portion of the sample was receiving government assistance, was unemployed, and had less than a high school education. Additionally, as might be expected, there was a different gender composition than what is found in standard drug court (21). In standard drug courts, the majority of participants are male, whereas within the FTC population, the majority of participants are female.…”

Attrition in Drug Court Research: Examining Participant Characteristics and Recommendations for Follow-Up

“…Scant research has examined the explicit impact of trauma history on drug court treatment outcomes; however, a body of evidence demonstrates a clear link between alcohol/drug abuse treatment attrition and histories of physical and sexual abuse (e.g., Amaro, Nieves, Johannes, & Cabeza, 1999; Claus & Kindleberger, 2002; Kang, Deren, & Goldstein, 2002). In a study on mental health issues among drug court participants, Weitzel, Nochajski, Coffey, and Farrell (2007) found that 32 of 108 participants reported traumatic events in their past, and 25% of these participants met the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Hagedorn and Willenbring (2003) similarly found that PTSD was one of the most common diagnoses among drug court participants in their study.…”