THETRUTHISTHELIGHT

THETRUT
MENTAL
ILLINESS IN PRISON
Data Confirm MH Crisis Growing in U.S. Prisons
Eve Bender Mental health problems abound in the nation's jails and prisons, according to the Department of Justice. But how many inmates have serious mental illness is unknown, say mental health advocates.
Data showing the prevalence of mental illness among inmates continue to indicate a crisis that is being inadequately addressed. More than half of prison and jail inmates were found to have a mental health problem, according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics in September. About a third of state prisoners (34 percent) with a mental health problem received treatment during incarceration, while only 17 percent of jail inmates did.
Jail inmates reported the highest rate of mental health problems (60 percent), followed by state (49 percent) and federal prisoners (40 percent).
Symptoms were measured using a series of questions adapted from a structured clinical interview for diagnosing mental disorders based on DSM-IV. Mental health problems were identified by the presence of symptoms generally associated with major depression, mania, and psychotic disorders in the year prior to the interview.
The surveys did not assess the severity or duration of symptoms, and no exclusions were made for symptoms due to medical illness, bereavement, or substance use.
Inmates who were unable to complete the surveys due to physical or mental impairment were excluded. For this study, the report noted, "estimates of DSM-IV symptoms of mental disorder provide a baseline indication of mental health problems among inmates rather than a clinical diagnosis of mental illness."
The data are based on findings from the department's Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities, 2004, and the Survey of Inmates in Local Jails, 2002. Approximately 14,500 state prisoners, 3,700 federal prisoners, and 7,000 jail inmates completed face-to-face interviews for the surveys.
To be categorized as having a mental health problem characterized by the researchers as symptomatic of major depression, inmates had to report experiencing depressed mood and decreasing interest or pleasure in activities, along with three additional depression symptoms.
To be categorized as having mania, inmates had to report three symptoms of mania during the preceding year, and to be categorized as having a psychotic disorder, inmates had to experience delusions or hallucinations during the previous year.
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