Screening for Mental Illness Among Persons in Amsterdam Police Custody

Abstract

More systematic research is needed to examine reasons for reports of different rates of mental illness among detainees in different countries.

Mental health and health-care use of detainees in police custody

“…24 Furthermore, they are in line with results from research performed in the same study population, which reported that nearly 40% of randomly selected police detainees were in need of further mental health assessment according to the Brief Jail Mental Health Screen. 25 The comparison with GP data demonstrates that the percentage of patients with a mental diagnosis is three times the percentage observed in general practice. Regarding the percentage of patients with nervous system medication, twice as many patients from the detainee population when compared to the general practice population received this type of medication.…”

Social vulnerabilities and health conditions of arrestees in the Greater Paris area, France, in 2013: a multicentre cross-sectional study

“…In Victoria State, Australia, a survey conducted with 614 arrestees showed that 16% were currently receiving mental health care [13]. Screening for mental illness among a sample of arrestees in Amsterdam showed that 40% were screened positive for a serious mental condition [25]. In Victoria State and Amsterdam, previous contacts with the public mental health system were identified in 55% and 26% of arrestees, respectively [13,26].…”

Police custody health care: a review of health morbidity, models of care and innovations within police custody in the UK, with international comparisons

“… 67 In the same study, a sample of almost 250 detainees was administered the Brief Jail Mental Health Screen, with 40% screening positive, indicating the need for more detailed assessment of their mental health. 68 , 69 By contrast, a recent study in Paris estimated that 8% of those examined by the police doctor had psychiatric disorders. 25 However, the authors acknowledge that their findings are not easily compared with the Dutch study because the detainees in the latter study were significantly younger and no specific screening of mental disorders was performed.…”