title: Medical and psychiatric problems among men and women in a community corrections residential setting.
abstract: Though the medical and mental health morbidity of incarcerated offenders has been discussed in a number of recent reports, very few data have been published concerning medical and mental health problems facing those on community corrections supervision. In this study of community corrections offenders utilizing residential facilities, we found that frequencies of substance use disorders, other mental health disorders, and medical problems exceeded frequencies found in the community and, in some cases, were higher than frequencies found in incarcerated individuals. Of particular concern were the high frequencies of substance use disorders, traumatic brain injury, anxiety states, suicidal ideation, and prior self-harm. While the level of self-reported medical and mental health service utilization was higher than expected, it appeared low relative to the disease burden reported by this special population. We conclude that concurrent evaluation and treatment of medical and psychiatric problems during the process of community supervision is indicated in this population.
authors.affiliation: Division of Forensic Psychiatry, Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63104, USA. tgunter2@slu.edu
authors.forename: Tracy D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Gunter
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Philibert
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hollenbeck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners; D011330:Prisons; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012112:Residential Facilities; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States