Citation

Piselli M, Attademo L, Garinella R, Rella A, Antinarelli S, Tamantini A, Quartesan R, Stracci F, Abram KM. Int. J. Law Psychiatry 2015; 41: 82-88.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Health Disparities and Public Policy Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 710 N. Lake Shore Drive, Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Electronic address: k-abram@northwestern.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ijlp.2015.03.011

PMID

25888500

Abstract

This paper presents data on the mental health needs of men in an Italian prison and examines if mental health needs of inmates differ across key correctional subpopulations. Interviewers conducted semi-structured clinical interviews with 526 convicted males incarcerated in the Spoleto Prison from October 2010 through September 2011. Nearly two thirds (65.0%) of inmates had an Axis I or Axis II disorder. About half (52.7%) had an Axis I disorder. Personality disorders were the most common disorders (51.9%), followed by anxiety (25.3%) and substance use disorders (24.9%). Over one third of inmates (36.6%) had comorbid types of disorder. The most common comorbid types of disorders were substance use disorders plus personality disorders (20.1%) and anxiety disorders plus personality disorders (18.0%).

FINDINGS underscore a significant need for specialized mental health services for men in Italian prisons. Moreover, as inmates return to the community, their care becomes the responsibility of the community health system. Service systems must be equipped to provide integrated services for those with both psychiatric and substance use disorders and be prepared for challenges posed by patients with personality disorders.

Language: en