7.3.3 Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorder in Prison Populations


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Knowledge of the Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders in Prison Populations, Suicide in Prisoners, and Psychiatric Treatment in Prison Settings

According to various studies, the prevalence of the psychiatric disorder is significantly higher in the UK prison population than in the general population. The most common psychiatric disorders found in prisoners include depression, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and substance use disorders (Fazel et al., 2017). The prevalence of psychosis is also higher in prison populations than in the general population, with rates ranging from 3% to 7% (Prison Reform Trust, 2019).

Additionally, suicide is a significant concern in UK prisons, with rates much higher than in the general population. In 2020, the suicide rate in UK prisons was 105 deaths per 100,000 prisoners, compared to the general population rate of 11.2 deaths per 100,000 people (Howard League for Penal Reform, 2021).

In terms of psychiatric treatment in prison settings, access to mental health services varies across different prisons in the UK. However, research has shown that prisoners often face barriers to accessing appropriate mental health care, including long waiting times, limited resources, and stigmatization (Fazel et al., 2017). Despite these challenges, effective mental health care in prisons has been shown to reduce self-harm and suicide rates and improve outcomes for prisoners with mental health problems (Brooker et al., 2018).

References:

  1. Brooker, C., Repper, J., & Beverley, C. (2018). A review of interventions to improve mental health and wellbeing among prisoners. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 14(4), 194-204.
  2. Fazel, S., Hayes, A. J., Bartellas, K., Clerici, M., & Trestman, R. (2016). Mental health of prisoners: prevalence, adverse outcomes, and interventions. The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(9), 871-881.
  3. Howard League for Penal Reform. (2021). Safer prisons. Retrieved from https://howardleague.org/safer-prisons/
  4. Prison Reform Trust. (2019). Mental health. Retrieved from https://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Mental%20health%20briefing%20June%202019%20FINAL.pdf