title: Presence of psychiatric morbidity in prison population in Kuwait.
abstract: This paper surveys the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in a Kuwaiti prison. The rate of major psychosis was considerably lower than the rate reported in other prison studies. Twenty-five percent of the sample had generalized anxiety disorder of a reactive nature which was most probably related to imprisonment itself. There was a preponderance of individuals suffering from personality disorder, alcoholism, and drug abuse problems. Prisoners with a diagnosis of major psychosis had very little exposure to psychiatrists and the large number of recidivists reflects the lack of a probation service. Financial embezzlement and drug/liquor smuggling remain the crimes of choice in Kuwait. Some underlying sociocultural factors are discussed and the need for an alternative prison-based therapeutic community service is emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Fido
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: al-Jabally
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales