Mental health outcomes of adjudicated males and females: the aftermath of juvenile delinquency and problem behaviour.
BACKGROUND
Empirical evidence indicates that the rates of mental health problems and disorders are relatively high among adjudicated youths, especially females, yet few longitudinal studies have focused on gender differences regarding their mental health outcomes as adults.


OBJECTIVE
The present study was designed to assess the prevalence rates of self-reported suicide attempts and psychological help-seeking in young adults adjudicated for antisocial behaviours in adolescence. This study also assessed gender differences in the prevalence rates of mental health problems and disorders reported by participants.


METHODS
Structured interviews assessing personal and social adaptation were conducted on three occasions with 292 adjudicated male and 113 female youths (mean age 15 years on the first occasion). Data from the third testing wave (mean age 23.51 at T3) provide information on their mental health outcomes in adulthood.


RESULTS
Results indicate that in individuals with a history of juvenile delinquency and/or problem behaviour over 10% of the males and 20% of the females reported suicide attempts, and one-fifth and one-third respectively reported psychological consultation. Similar and lower proportions reported psychiatric hospitalization and/or drug addiction programme/therapy at the beginning of adulthood.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests that these youths may need more mental health directed interventions in their assessment rehabilitation programmes.
Corneau
Mélanie
M
School of Criminology, University of Montreal, Canada. melanie.corneau@umontreal.ca
Lanctôt
Nadine
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*