Prevalence Rates and Evolution of Psychiatric Disorders Among Incarcerated Youths in Comparison With Non-incarcerated Youths

Article Article scientifique Article Prevalence Rates and Evolution of Psychiatric Disorders Among Incarcerated Youths in Comparison With Non-incarcerated Youths eng 2022-01-07 2022-01-07 author Heller Patrick 0000-0002-6754-6687 772722 author Morosan Larisa 0000-0003-0148-2948 772498 author Badoud Deborah Myriam 635311 author Laubscher Manon 809102 author Jimenez Olariaga Lisa 825446 author Debbané Martin 543333 Section de psychologie (PSICO) author Wolff Hans 0000-0002-4978-2176 45574 Département de santé et médecine communautaire (MECOM) author Baggio Stéphanie 0000-0002-5347-5937 706989 784954 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.784954 35069287 1664-0640 PMC8782264 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.784954/full Background: Our main objective was to provide estimates of the prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders and comorbidities among youths in a juvenile detention center in Geneva, Switzerland. We also aimed to investigate potential positive effects of intensive psychotherapeutic and educational services this center provides. Finally, we examined psychiatric care prior to and after custody as well as the evolution of the youths' mental health during detention. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study including a group of incarcerated ( n = 86) and a group of non-incarcerated ( n = 169) youths (12–18 years old). Measures included diagnoses of psychiatric disorders, cognitive functions, trauma, psychopathic traits and the Youth Self-Report (aggressive behavior, attentional disorders, criminal behavior, social withdrawal, anxiety, depression and somatic complaints) collected at baseline and at discharge for the incarcerated group. Data were analyzed using mixed-effect models. Results: Psychiatric disorders were prevalent in the incarcerated group (82.6, 95% CI: 71.6–90.7%), but young people also often suffered from several disorders simultaneously. Two-thirds of the incarcerated participants had a diagnosis of two or more psychiatric disorders. Regarding health care, most incarcerated participants (79.1%) had psychiatric care prior to detention. The planned care after detention was associated with psychiatric comorbidities, care being more likely planned for those with comorbidities ( p = 0.030). Compared to the non-incarcerated group, the incarcerated group had lower scores on cognitive functioning ( p &lt; 0.001) and higher scores on trauma ( p &lt; 0.021) and psychopathic traits ( p &lt; 0.034). The youths' stay in the detention center was associated with a positive change of mental health, with externalized problems being significantly reduced at the end of their stay ( p = 0.017). Conclusion: Our findings showed that youths in conflict with the law are characterized by (1) their internal vulnerabilities: a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders and psychiatric comorbidities, lower cognitive functions, externalized problems and psychopathic traits; (2) environmental factors: victims of violence and sexual abuse; and (3) their psychiatric history. Besides, the evolution of the most prevalent issues was favorable over time, which puts into question the usual perspective about the deleterious effect of detention. Delinquency Juvenile Mental health Prison Psychiatry Dewey 616.89 Dewey 613 Dewey 150 108 Section de psychologie 71 64 Département de santé et médecine communautaires 22A 60 Département de psychiatrie 225 false 603 Unité de psychologie clinique développementale (UPCD) Frontiers in psychiatry 12 757a0756-fc99-4fb6-aa50-393bc21db9a7 Article (Published version) Public Prevalence_Rates_and_Evolution_of_P.pdf 682054 application/pdf CC BY-4.0 a9e984766996eea96f950d4d91476d8ffb8d81ca77ea375a87569f611c177872 openAccess Faculté de psychologie et des sciences de l'éducation / Section de psychologie Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de santé et médecine communautaires Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de psychiatrie

Title	Published in	Year	Views	Downloads

Prevalence Rates and Evolution of Psychiatric Disorders Among Incarcerated Youths in Comparison With Non-incarcerated Youths	Frontiers in psychiatry	2022	69	156
La capacité de mentalisation et le style d'attachement en lien avec l'alliance thérapeutique : une étude de cas de deux adolescents détenus présentant des problèmes externalisés		2014	706	0

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