The early identification of people with personality disorder in the criminal justice system

Craster, Laura; Forrester, Andrew

doi:10.1177/0025802420917837

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…The reported community prevalence of common mental disorders in the UK in 2014 was 17%, and 0.7% for psychotic disorders (McManus, Bebbington, Jenkins & Brugha, 2016). Fewer studies have examined the prevalence of personality disorder, post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or attention deficit and hyperactive disorder (ADHD) amongst police detainees and these too may be relevant to management, including safety needs or capacity to be interviewed (Craster & Forrester, 2020; Warrington, 2019; Young, Goodwin, Sedgwick & Gudjonsson, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The prevalence of mental illness and unmet needs of police custody detainees

Samele

McKinnon

Brown

et al. 2021

Criminal Behav Ment Health

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Background Internationally, there is evidence of high rates of mental disorders amongst police custody detainees but this literature is limited, and there has been little research into the unmet needs of police detainees in the UK, or elsewhere. Such research could support better focussed interventions for improving health and recidivism outcomes. Aim To examine psychiatric and developmental morbidity amongst police detainees, and ascertain differences in need between morbidity categories. Method We used a cross‐sectional study design and interviewed a 40% sample of people entering police custody in one South London police station over a 2‐week period. A series of standardised measures was administered to screen for the presence of mental illness, general health and social care needs. Results A cohort of 134 people was generated, of whom nearly one‐third (39, 29%) had current mental illness (major depression and/or psychosis); more had a lifetime diagnosis (54, 40%). Just under a fifth met the threshold for post‐traumatic stress disorder (11, 8%). Clinically relevant alcohol or daily cannabis use affected about one quarter of the sample. Twenty‐one percent (or 28) screened positive for personality disorder, 11% (or 15) for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and 4% (6) for intellectual disability. Nearly one‐fifth (24, 18%) were at risk for suicide. Those with psychosis, and those deemed at risk for suicide, had the highest levels of unmet need and, indeed, overall need. The most frequent unmet need was for accommodation. Conclusion Our findings not only confirm high rates of mental health problems amongst police detainees but also demonstrate their high risk of suicide and high levels of unmet need, especially as regards accommodation. This underscores the need to provide mental health services in police stations, to help identify and resolve these issues at this early stage in the criminal justice system. Extending accommodation capacity to help some arrestees may help to save lives and interrupt cycling through the criminal justice system.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The prevalence of mental illness and unmet needs of police custody detainees

Samele

McKinnon

Brown

et al. 2021

Criminal Behav Ment Health

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It is also possible that providing screening at earlier stages of the criminal justice system, such as within liaison and diversion services operating in police custody or the lower courts, as has been recommended for some other mental health conditions, could facilitate identification. 10,11 In any case, it will be important for a traumatic stress pathway to be fully integrated across a range of conditions – including other mental health, substance misuse, and physical health conditions – given the tendency towards diagnostic co-morbidity and complexity amongst prisoners. 9…”

Section: Identifying Traumatic Stress Amongst People In Prisonmentioning

confidence: 99%