Presence of psychiatric morbidity in prison population in Kuwait
Affiliations
Affiliations
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat.
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.
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