Long-term imprisonment leads to cognitive impairment.
The effects of long-term imprisonment on cognitive functions are investigated in a longitudinal study. Twenty-four serious offenders in an Austrian penitentiary underwent concentration and memory performance measurements via a questionnaire presented to them under controlled conditions in two sessions at a 42 month interval. The difference in the parameters indicated cognitive impairment after this period that was highly significant (P < 0.01); this can be interpreted as a direct consequence of imprisonment.
Lapornik
R
R
Department of Psychiatry, University of Graz, Austria.
Lehofer
M
M
Moser
M
M
Pump
G
G
Egner
S
S
Posch
C
C
Hildebrandt
G
G
Zapotoczky
H G
HG
D000328:Adult; D001317:Austria; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013997:Time Factors