Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders and Related Factors in Male Prisoners

BACKGROUND: Prisoners are at risk of mental disorders. Therefore attention to mental health of prisoners is important. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed determine to the prevalence of mental disorders among Kashan prisoners. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross sectional study was carried out in Kashan prison (Iran). 180 Subjects were selected by using stratified random sampling and evaluated with Symptoms Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) questionnaire and clinical interview based on Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Disease-IV (DSM-IV) check list by two psychiatrists. Data were analyzed by SPSS-16 software and Chi square, Kolmogrov Smirnov, Mann-whiteny and Leven tests. RESULTS: The mean age of prisoners was 31.9 ± 8.96. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in prisoners was 43.4 %. The most frequent disorders were major depressive disorders (27.9 %), Post traumatic Stress Disorder (17.4%) and substance use disorder (17.4 %). 28.3% of prisoners had personality disorders, that the most prevalent were antisocial personality and borderline personality. The comorbidity of psychiatric disorders was (36 %) in axis I. Suicidal thoughts there were in 44.6 % of prisoners. History of head trauma in Prisoners with psychiatric disorders was (52.2 %). There was significant difference between head trauma and psychiatric disorders (P = 0.05). Significant difference was between marital status and duration of imprisonment with psychiatric disorders P < 0.05. There was not significant difference between type of crime and educational level with psychiatric disorders. CONCLUSIONS: About half of all prisoners suffered from psychiatric disorders; therefore treatment psychiatric disorder in this group is essential for prevention of crime. Prisoners are at risk of mental disorders. Therefore attention to mental health of prisoners is important.