title: Treatment of Mentally Ill Offenders in Nine Developing Latin American Countries.
abstract: The prevalence of psychiatric conditions among prisoners in Latin America is greatly underestimated, and because of the lack of awareness about mental illness among service providers in Latin American prisons, oftentimes these conditions go unrecognized or are not treated properly. In the worst-case scenarios, human rights violations occur. Despite the high levels of need, many prisoners have not received adequate or timely treatment. The sparse existing literature documents prison conditions throughout Latin American countries, ranging from poor to extremely harsh, overcrowded, and life threatening. Most prison systems do not meet international prison standards. The information on forensic mental health services and the treatment of offenders with mental illness have been less extensively studied and compared with forensic practices in developed American nations. This study analyzes the existing literature on forensic psychiatry, focusing on nine socioeconomically developing nations in Latin America, to improve understanding of treatment approaches for offenders with mental illness and identify emerging themes. A review was conducted and data were included in regression analyses to investigate information relative to the treatment of offenders with mental illness and its interaction with the mental health system.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Almanzar is affiliated with the Clarion Psychiatric Center, Universal Health Services, Clarion, PA. Dr. Harry is Director of the Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO. Dr. Katz is Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Education and Director of the Program in Global Mental Health, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY. Dr. Almanzar completed this work while a Fellow in Forensic Psychiatry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO. almanzmd@aol.com.
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Almanzar
authors.affiliation: Dr. Almanzar is affiliated with the Clarion Psychiatric Center, Universal Health Services, Clarion, PA. Dr. Harry is Director of the Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO. Dr. Katz is Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Education and Director of the Program in Global Mental Health, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY. Dr. Almanzar completed this work while a Fellow in Forensic Psychiatry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO.
authors.forename: Craig L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.affiliation: Dr. Almanzar is affiliated with the Clarion Psychiatric Center, Universal Health Services, Clarion, PA. Dr. Harry is Director of the Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Program and Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO. Dr. Katz is Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Education and Director of the Program in Global Mental Health, Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY. Dr. Almanzar completed this work while a Fellow in Forensic Psychiatry, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Harry
mesh_terms: D057237:Criminals / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011330:Prisons