Prevalence Rates of Mental Disorders in Chilean Prisons

Abstract

ObjectiveHigh rates of mental disorders have been reported for prison populations worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The present study aimed to establish prevalence rates of mental disorders in Chilean prisoners.MethodA nationwide random sample of 1008 prisoners was assessed in 7 penal institutions throughout Chile. Twelve-month prevalence rates were established using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and compared to the prevalence rates previously published for the general population.ResultsPrevalence rates were 12.2% (95% CI, 10.2-14.1) for any substance use disorder, 8.3% (6.6-10.0) for anxiety disorders, 8.1% (6.5-9.8) for affective disorders, 5.7% (4.4-7.1) for intermittent explosive disorders, 2.2% (1.4-3.2) for ADHD of the adult, and 0.8% (0.3-1.3) for non-affective psychoses. Significantly higher prevalence rates among prisoners as compared to the general population in Chile were seen for major depression (6.1% vs. 3.7% males, Z=2.58, p<0.05) and illicit drug use (3.3% vs. 0.6% males with drug abuse, Z=2.04, p<0.05; 2.6% vs. 0.1% females with drug abuse, Z=5.36, p<0.001; 3.4% vs. 1.1% males with drug dependence, Z=3.70; p<0.001). Dysthymia (6.5% vs. 15.6%, Z=-2.39, p<0.05), simple (3.3% vs. 11.5%, Z=-3.13, p<0.001) and social phobias (3.9% vs. 9.7%, Z=2.38, p<0.05) were significantly less frequent in the female prison population than in the general population. One-year prevalence rates of alcohol abuse (2.3% vs. 3.9%; Z=-2.04; p<0.05) and dependence (2.7% vs. 8.2%; Z=-5.24; p<0.001) were less prevalent in the male prison population than in the general population.ConclusionsService provision for prison populations in Chile should acknowledge high rates of depression and illicit drug use. Overall prevalence rates are lower than reported in other LMICs. Previous research in prison populations in LMICs might have overestimated prevalence rates of mental disorders.

Treating substance abuse is not enough: Comorbidities in consecutively admitted female prisoners

“…We aimed to recruit a total sample of 150 participants. The sample size was expected to yield percentage estimates with reasonable 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the total sample, i. e. 10% (95% CI: 5-15) or 20% (95% CI: [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. Prisoners with all types of verdict such as people in detention, remand prisoners and convicted prisoners were included in the study.…”

“…The priority is then to develop adequate treatments, which acknowledge the primary substance of addiction and comorbidities with other mental disorders, the so called 'dual disorders' [18]. Previous research has demonstrated, with respect to nicotine addiction of prisoners, that treatment was superior to mere forced 5 abstinence in smoke free jails, which by itself had hardly any affect on the addiction after release [19].…”

The course of major depression during imprisonment – A one year cohort study

“…convicts in Chile (Mundt et al, 2013). In most places, major depression at admission to prison remains untreated.…”

Patología dual en poblaciones especiales: una revisión narrativa

“…Con respecto a la PD, se han encontrado prevalencias entre 6 y 43.3% (Baillargeon et al, 2010;Butler et al, 2011;Fazel & Seewald, 2012;Lukasiewicz et al, 2009). Entre los OTP más prevalentes en personas en prisión con TCS, se encuentran los trastornos de personalidad; destacan el trastorno antisocial de la personalidad, los trastornos psicóticos, de ansiedad, del estado de ánimo y por déficit de atención (Butler et al, 2011;Casares-López et al, 2010;Fazel & Baillargeon, 2011;Fazel & Danesh, 2002;Fazel & Seewald, 2012;Fazel & Yu, 2011;Lukasiewicz et al, 2009;Konstenius et al, 2015;Mundt et al, 2013). En la Tabla 2 se presentan algunos estudios observacionales específicos en patología dual en entornos penitenciarios.…”

“…Diversos estudios han asociado los trastornos mentales con dificultades de ajuste al ambiente penitenciario, lo cual aumenta el riesgo de presentar abuso y padecer violaciones a los derechos humanos, asimismo dificulta la reintegración social e incrementa las probabilidades de indigencia o reingreso a la cárcel (Mundt et al, 2013;Colmenares-Bermúdez, Romero Mendoza, Rodríguez Ruiz, Durand-Smith, & Saldívar Hernández, 2007;Fazel & Seewald, 2012;McNiel, Binder, & Robinson, 2005). Se ha documentado que es más probable que los reclusos con PD presenten múltiples encarcelamientos o les sea revocada la libertad condicional, comparados con quienes no tienen PD (Baillargeon et al, 2009;Baillargeon et al, 2010;Black et al, 2010;Pickard & Fazel, 2013).…”