title: Co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders among male detainees in Italy.
abstract: This paper presents data on the prevalence of co-occurring substance use and psychiatric disorders among newly imprisoned males in Italy. Interviewers conducted semi-structured clinical interviews with n=302 male detainees seven days after their admission to the prison of Perugia from August 2005 through July 2006. Over half of male detainees (54.3%) had either a substance use disorder or another psychiatric disorder. One of every five detainees (20.9%) had comorbid substance use and psychiatric disorders. Compared to detainees with psychiatric disorder only, substance use disorder only, or no disorder, detainees with comorbid substance use and psychiatric disorders were significantly more likely to have severe impairment in the areas of employment, substance abuse, family and social functioning, and psychiatric symptoms. Findings underscore the need for careful diagnostic screening at intake, access to treatment during detention, and an effective transition to services at the time of release.
authors.affiliation: University of Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piselli
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elisei
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murgia
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Quartesan
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Abram
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D015897:Comorbidity; D006304:Health Status; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014478:Unemployment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data