Psychiatric morbidity in sentenced segregated HIV-positive prisoners.
In this comparative study with a control group of prisoners, psychiatric morbidity was measured in two groups of sentenced prisoners, each group completing the GHQ-30 and 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Group 1 consisted of 40 segregated HIV-positive prisoners and group 2 a matched control group in the main prison who had no history of HIV seropositivity. All members of group 1 had a history of intravenous drug abuse. The mean GHQ-30 and BDI scores were significantly higher in group 1, and 90% of group 1 were psychiatric 'cases' compared with just over 42% of group 2. Levels of psychiatric morbidity present in a third group, consisting of HIV-positive prisoners who had not been segregated (prison authorities were unaware of their seropositivity) are an interesting pointer for further research.
Dorman
A
A
Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
O'Connor
A
A
Hardiman
E
E
Freyne
A
A
O'Neill
H
H
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010356:Patient Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012931:Social Environment; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology