Characteristics of inmates who received a diagnosis of serious mental illness upon entry to New York State prison.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the characteristics of inmates who received a diagnosis of serious mental illness upon entry to a New York State prison. The number has been rapidly increasing since the 1990s.


METHODS
Chart review was performed for inmates who entered prison between May 15, 2007, and June 14, 2007, and received a diagnosis of serious mental illness.


RESULTS
Six percent (172 of 2,918 inmates) received a diagnosis of serious mental illness. The mean+/-SD age of these 172 patients was 36+/-9.6. A total of 167 (97%) had a prior psychiatric hospitalization, and 48 (28%) had four or more. Seventy-nine (46%) had their first hospitalization ten or more years ago. A total of 107 (62%) had a prior serious suicide attempt, 101 (59%) had prior inpatient treatment for substance abuse, and 79 (46%) had prior state prison incarceration.


CONCLUSIONS
This is a very high-need population for which correctional mental health services need to plan.
Way
Bruce B
BB
Central New York Psychiatric Center, New York Office of Mental Health, Box 300, Marcy, NY 13403, USA. bruceway@verizon.net
Sawyer
Donald A
DA
Lilly
Stephanie N
SN
Moffitt
Catherine
C
Stapholz
Barbara J
BJ
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data