Mental health of adolescents in custody: the use of the "Adolescent Psychopathology Scale" in a Tasmanian context.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the incidence of mental health problems based on the DSM-IV [1] among adolescents in custody in Tasmania, using the Adolescent Psychopathology Scale (APS) [2].


METHODS
The APS was administered to 50 adolescents admitted consecutively to a youth detention centre in Tasmania, Australia, using a structured interview format.


RESULTS
In this sample 46% scored positively for a mood disorder, 36% for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and 32% for an anxiety disorder excluding PTSD.


CONCLUSIONS
Tasmania is no exception to the rule that adolescents in custody have a high proportion of mental health problems. This study confirmed findings of previous studies that detained adolescents had a roughly equivalent level of mental health problems as young people referred to mental health services and five times more than adolescents in the community. Therefore, all detained adolescents should be assessed for mental health problems as their risk is equivalent to that of young people referred to mental health services in the community. Youth detention centres are able to provide significant opportunities for individual therapy and group programmes for young people with mental health problems. However, to achieve a realization of this potential, detention facilities need to develop philosophies and procedures, which facilitate the development of therapeutic, as opposed to "punishing", environments.
Bickel
Rosie
R
Oakrise Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, 3 Kelham Street, Launceton, Tasmania 7250, Australia. rosie.bickel@dhhs.tas.gov.au
Campbell
Alistair
A
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires