title: Staff and patient perspectives on the purpose of psychotropic prescribing in prisons: care or control?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to explore perspectives on reasons for psychotropic medication use in prisons.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited a purposive sample of healthcare staff and patients prescribed psychotropic medicines from four East of England prisons. Participants took part in qualitative, semistructured interviews, which were recorded, transcribed and analyzed thematically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While patients and healthcare staff viewed psychotropic medicines primarily as a treatment for reducing symptoms of mental illness, they were also used as a coping strategy and to reduce insomnia. Appropriate psychotropic prescribing was also thought to contribute towards the rehabilitation agenda and helped to maintain order in prisons. Staff voiced concerns regarding possible overreliance on psychotropic medicines. However, patients perceived insufficient access to alternative, nonpharmacological forms of treatment and support in prison.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychotropic medicines are used for multiple purposes in prisons and are generally considered a useful resource. Nonetheless, further work may be needed to find the right balance between psychotropic medicines and alternative, nonpharmacological therapies.
authors: Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL. lamiece.hassan@manchester.ac.uk
authors: Lamiece
authors: L
authors: Hassan
authors: Dawn
authors: D
authors: Edge
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Senior
authors: Jenny
authors: J
authors: Shaw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001290:Attitude; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D011330:Prisons / Q000379:methods; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs