British Journal of Psychiatry, 181(12), December 2002, pp.481-487.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
The aim of this article is to compare early environmental risks, stressful daily living experiences and reported use of psychiatric services in prisoners from different ethnic groups. Fewer Black and South Asian male prisoners reported childhood traumas and conduct disorder, and fewer Black prisoners experienced stressful prison experiences, than White prisoners. Fewer Black women had received previous psychiatric treatment, and fewer Black men had their psychiatric problems identified in prison. Black prisoners were less likely to have received psychiatric treatment than Whites. The lower prevalence of psychiatric morbidity observed in Black prisoners corresponds with reduced exposure to risk factors. Higher rates of imprisonment might be explained by higher rates of conduct disorder, adolescent-onset criminality and disadvantage within the criminal justice system.
The aim of this article is to compare early environmental risks, stressful daily living experiences and reported use of psychiatric services in prisoners from different ethnic groups. Fewer Black and South Asian male prisoners reported childhood traumas and conduct disorder, and fewer Black prisoners experienced stressful prison experiences, than White prisoners. Fewer Black women had received previous psychiatric treatment, and fewer Black men had their psychiatric problems identified in prison. Black prisoners were less likely to have received psychiatric treatment than Whites. The lower prevalence of psychiatric morbidity observed in Black prisoners corresponds with reduced exposure to risk factors. Higher rates of imprisonment might be explained by higher rates of conduct disorder, adolescent-onset criminality and disadvantage within the criminal justice system.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, psychiatry, prisoners, prisons, risk, social care provision, South Asian people, traumas, acute psychiatric care, assessment, black and minority ethnic people, crime, criminal justice, discrimination;
British Journal of Psychiatry, 181(12), December 2002, pp.473-480.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
In England and Wales, persons of African-Caribbean origin are more likely to be both imprisoned and admitted to secure hospitals. The authors examined Home Office data on all persons in prison, and carried out a two-stage cross-sectional survey of 3142 remanded and sentenced, male and female, prisoners in all penal establishments in England and Wales in 1997. The research confirmed high rates of imprisonment for Black people and lower rates for South Asians. Different patterns of offending and lower prevalence of psychiatric morbidity were observed in Black prisoners. Despite increased risks of imprisonment, African-Caribbeans show less psychiatric morbidity than White prisoners. This contrasts with the excess of African-Caribbeans in secure hospitals, an inconsistency possibly in part due to the effects of ethnic groups on admission procedures.
In England and Wales, persons of African-Caribbean origin are more likely to be both imprisoned and admitted to secure hospitals. The authors examined Home Office data on all persons in prison, and carried out a two-stage cross-sectional survey of 3142 remanded and sentenced, male and female, prisoners in all penal establishments in England and Wales in 1997. The research confirmed high rates of imprisonment for Black people and lower rates for South Asians. Different patterns of offending and lower prevalence of psychiatric morbidity were observed in Black prisoners. Despite increased risks of imprisonment, African-Caribbeans show less psychiatric morbidity than White prisoners. This contrasts with the excess of African-Caribbeans in secure hospitals, an inconsistency possibly in part due to the effects of ethnic groups on admission procedures.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, older people, hospital admission, psychiatry, prisoners, prisons, severe learning disabilities, acute psychiatric care, black and minority ethnic people, disability discrimination, discrimination;