Presence of psychiatric morbidity in prison population in Kuwait

Affiliations


Abstract

This paper surveys the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in a Kuwaiti prison. The rate of major psychosis was considerably lower than the rate reported in other prison studies. Twenty-five percent of the sample had generalized anxiety disorder of a reactive nature which was most probably related to imprisonment itself. There was a preponderance of individuals suffering from personality disorder, alcoholism, and drug abuse problems. Prisoners with a diagnosis of major psychosis had very little exposure to psychiatrists and the large number of recidivists reflects the lack of a probation service. Financial embezzlement and drug/liquor smuggling remain the crimes of choice in Kuwait. Some underlying sociocultural factors are discussed and the need for an alternative prison-based therapeutic community service is emphasized.


Similar articles

Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in New Zealand prisons: a national study.

Brinded PM, Simpson AI, Laidlaw TM, Fairley N, Malcolm F.Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2001 Apr;35(2):166-73. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-1614.2001.00885.x.PMID: 11284897

Psychiatric disorders in prisoners referred for assessment: a preliminary study.

Fido AA, Razik MA, Mizra I, el-Islam MF.Can J Psychiatry. 1992 Mar;37(2):100-3. doi: 10.1177/070674379203700205.PMID: 1562952

Psychiatric disorders and criminal history in male prisoners in Greece.

Alevizopoulos G, Igoumenou A.Int J Law Psychiatry. 2016 Jul-Aug;47:171-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2016.04.003. Epub 2016 May 7.PMID: 27167215

Mental health in prison populations. A review--with special emphasis on a study of Danish prisoners on remand.

Andersen HS.Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl. 2004;(424):5-59. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2004.00436_2.x.PMID: 15447785 Review.

Serious mental disorder in 23000 prisoners: a systematic review of 62 surveys.

Fazel S, Danesh J.Lancet. 2002 Feb 16;359(9306):545-50. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(02)07740-1.PMID: 11867106 Review.


Cited by

Severe mental illness and substance use disorders in prisoners in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence studies.

Baranyi G, Scholl C, Fazel S, Patel V, Priebe S, Mundt AP.Lancet Glob Health. 2019 Apr;7(4):e461-e471. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30539-4.PMID: 30879509 Free PMC article.

Clinical profile of patients attending a prison psychiatric clinic.

Chadda RK, Amarjeet.Indian J Psychiatry. 1998 Jul;40(3):260-5.PMID: 21494482 Free PMC article.


KMEL References