Acceso usuarios
Brigita Novak Sarotar, M. Stuhec, S. Brunec, Vesna Švab
Background and objectives The prevalence of mental disorders in EU prisons is high. Little is known about provision of care in Eastern and Central European countries, particularly in former Yugoslavian countries. The aim of this study was to assess diagnoses, characteristics and care provision of prisoners diagnosed with mental disorders in the psychiatric outpatient clinic in the biggest Slovene male prison Dob.
Methods Prison psychiatrist collected data on psychiatric diagnosis, suicide rates and care provision from patients’ medical records and charts. In addition, interviews were performed with leading representatives of service organization, members of staff working in psychiatric outpatient clinic, and prison guards.
Results Out of 520 prisoners, 220 (42.3%) were involved in treatment in psychiatric outpatient clinic and all were included in this research. The data were gathered in 2016. The most prevalent diagnosis was addiction disorder in 82.7% (182) of all patients. Out of them only 24 (10.9%) were diagnosed with alcohol addiction. 94 prisoners (42.7%) were on substitution therapy because of drug addiction. The point prevalence of psychotic disorders was 7.3%, 10.0% for mood disorders and 15.9% for anxiety disorders. Personality disorders were diagnosed in 19.5% of all patients. Co-morbidity was diagnosed in 80 patients (36.4%). There were no suicides in the prison Dob in the period between 2012 and 2016. In this period strong and systematic anti-suicide measures have been already established and applied in the prison. The prison suicide prevention plan is described.
Conclusions The prevalence of addiction disorders in Slovene prison is high. Absence of suicides in the four year period indicates that quality of suicide prevention measures in prison Dob.
