title: Psychological distress and psychiatric morbidity in women prisoners.
abstract: The population of a women's prison (n = 92) was screened for psychological distress and psychiatric morbidity with the 12-item General Health Questionnaire, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, a Recent Stressful Life Events questionnaire and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R. High levels of symptoms of psychological distress were recorded. Distress was correlated with recent stressful life events and was more severe in women awaiting trial. Fifty-three per cent of the prisoners were diagnosed as current cases of a psychiatric disorder and the most frequent diagnoses were adjustment disorder with depressed mood and personality disorders. Lifetime prevalence of psychoactive substance use disorders was 54 per cent. Aboriginal women were over-represented in this prison population. A follow-up survey after 4 months showed no fall in the prevalence of psychological distress and psychiatric morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Brisbane Correctional Centre.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dunne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008016:Life Change Events; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs