title: Temperament, insecure attachment, impulsivity, and sexuality in women in jail.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Women constitute only a small proportion of inmates, but several studies have shown that they have higher rates of psychiatric disturbance than incarcerated men and community samples. Mental health treatment is necessary to prevent severe illness and suicide in these women.
  
  
  METHODS
  The convenience sample consisted of 40 female detainees and 40 controls who were administered self-report questionnaires to assess temperament (TEMPS-A), insecure attachment (ECR), impulsivity (BIS-11), and sexual behavior (SESAMO).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incarcerated women had higher levels of affective temperament (except for hyperthymia), avoidance, anxiety, impulsivity, and psychosexual issues than the female community sample.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many interrelated emotional and affective disturbances affect the physical and psychological well-being of women in jail, and it is possible that these problems may lead to suicide. Health professionals need to develop gender-specific therapeutic interventions for women in jail.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iliceto
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pompili
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Candilera
authors.forename: Iole
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rosafio
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Erbuto
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Battuello
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lester
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Girardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D007508:Irritable Mood; D007558:Italy; D009769:Object Attachment; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012494:Sampling Studies; D019529:Sexuality; D013694:Temperament