From the November, 2008 issue of the journal, Psychiatric Services.
Characteristics of Inmates of Inmates Who Received A Diagnosis of Severe Mental Illness on Entry To New York State Prison.
This study investigated the characteristics of inmates who received a diagnosis of serious mental illness upon entry to a New York State prison. The number has been rapidly increasing since the 1990s. METHODS: Chart review was performed for inmates who entered prison between May 15, 2007, and June 14, 2007, and received a diagnosis of serious mental illness. RESULTS: Six percent (172 of 2,918 inmates) received a diagnosis of serious mental illness. The mean±SD age of these 172 patients was 36±9.6. A total of 167 (97%) had a prior psychiatric hospitalization, and 48 (28%) had four or more. Seventy-nine (46%) had their first hospitalization ten or more years ago. A total of 107 (62%) had a prior serious suicide attempt, 101 (59%) had prior inpatient treatment for substance abuse, and 79 (46%) had prior state prison incarceration. CONCLUSIONS: This is a very high-need population for which correctional mental health services need to plan.
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