Prevalence of Mental Disorders and Recidivism in Young Offenders

Abstract

Several studies report that incarcerated young offenders show a high rate of psychiatric disorders whereas associations between specifi c psychiatric disorders and recidivism remain unknown. The Brazilian legal system has created a unique opportunity for the study of this issue when consider young offenders not that guilty in spite of the severity of the crime, settling in three years the maximum period of incarceration. This study aims to determine the rate of psychiatric disorders in a cohort of incarcerated young offenders and evaluate the possible psychiatric connections of primary offenders and recidivism. A group of 898 incarcerated young offenders at Fundação Casa answered psychiatric interviews and was diagnosed according to the criteria of ICD-10. Statistic connections were analyzed using the tests of Pearson and Cramer. The cohort was comprised of 619 primaries and 267 recidivists. 'Psychoactive Substance Use' and 'Disorders of Adult Personality and Behavior' categories were related to recidivism, whereas 'Organic Mental Disorders', 'Mood Disorders', and 'Stress-related Disorders' were related to primary offenders. Discriminating disorders were the most likely to represent reactions to primary incarceration. In relation to associations that might represent predictors of crime, it became highly suggestive that substance abuse is the main cause of incarceration for the entire cohort. Keywords: Young offenders, psychiatric disorders, recidivism, psychiatric epidemiology. ResumoDiversos estudos revelam que jovens infratores encarcerados apresentam taxas aumentadas de transtornos psiquiátricos, ao passo que associações entre transtornos específi cos e reincidência permaneçam desconhecidas. O sistema legal brasileiro criou uma oportunidade exclusiva para o estudo desta questão, conforme considera os menores não imputáveis, a despeito da severidade do crime, fi xando em três anos o período máximo de encarceramento. Este estudo pretende determinar a taxa de transtornos psiquiátricos em uma coorte de jovens infratores encarcerados e avaliar possíveis conexões entre transtornos específi cos encarceramento primário e reincidência criminosa. Um grupo de 898 internos da Fundação Casa foi submetido a entrevistas psiquiátricas e diagnosticado de acordo com os critérios do CID-10. Conexões estatísticas foram analisadas usando os testes de Pearson e Cramer. A coorte tinha 619 primários e 267 reincidentes. Uso de Substância Psicoativa e Desordens da Personalidade e Comportamento Adulto relacionaram-se com reincidência, ao passo que Doenças Mentais Orgânicas, Transtorno do Humor e Desordens Relacionadas ao Estresse apresentaram relação com encarceramento primário. No que tange aos preditores da criminalidade, reforça-se a noção de que o abuso de drogas é a principal causa de encarceramento na amostra investigada. Palavras-chave: Jovens infratores, transtornos psiquiátricos, reincidência, epidemiologia psiquiátrica.

Effect of Social Skills Training on Juveniles’ Psychological Problems in a Detention Center in Ghana

“…In that study, some mental problems were associated with young offenders especially anger, depression and low self-esteem. However, Dias et al [16] study, had gone to confirm the reduction in mental health symptoms of anxiety and anger after an intervention programme. However, the study by Dias et al [16] had confirmed a study by Bickel and Campbell [15] who conducted an investigation into the incidence of mental health problems among young offenders as compared to controls (12-18 years) in Tasmania, Australia using Adolescent Psychopathy Scale.…”

“…However, Dias et al [16] study, had gone to confirm the reduction in mental health symptoms of anxiety and anger after an intervention programme. However, the study by Dias et al [16] had confirmed a study by Bickel and Campbell [15] who conducted an investigation into the incidence of mental health problems among young offenders as compared to controls (12-18 years) in Tasmania, Australia using Adolescent Psychopathy Scale. That study showed that 40% scored positively for mood disorder, 36% for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and 32% for anxiety disorder excluding PTSD.…”

Psychische Störungen und kriminelle Rückfälle bei männlichen jugendlichen Gefängnisinsassen

“…In der vorliegenden Studie litt der größte Anteil der Jugendlichen unter Substanzmissbrauchsstörungen (64.8 %) und/oder unter Verhaltensstörungen (80.3 %), welche die Störung des Sozialverhaltens, das oppositionelle Trotzverhalten und die Aufmerksamkeits-und Hyperaktivitätsstörung (ADHS) umfassen. Dieses Ergebnis wird auch durch die Resultate anderer Studien (Dias, Serafi m & de Barros, 2014;McReynolds et al, 2010;Plattner et al, 2011) und Metaanalysen (Colins et al, 2010;Wibbelink et al, 2017) untermauert. In der Untersuchung von Hoeve et al (2013) zeigten sich allerdings die internalisierenden Störungen als die häufi gsten Erkrankungen, gefolgt von Verhaltensund Substanzmissbrauchsstörungen.…”