Mental and behavioral disorders in the prison context.

INTRODUCTION: During the execution of sentences in prison units, there are deficiencies within the adaptation mechanisms of persons deprived of liberty, this varies depending on the place where they serve the sanction and the length of stay in it. OBJECTIVES: To collect information on the prevalence of mental and behavioural disorders in the prison setting, as well as the importance of early psychiatric intervention. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Theoretical review. Primary sources of information: scientific articles from indexed journals, in specialized medical information search engines. Original publications on mental and behavioural disorders in the prison and prison context were included, from 2016 to April 2021, with an analytical, observational, prospective, retrospective, cross-sectional and randomized design, systematic reviews and meta-analyzes, complete articles, carried out in any country, with subjects over 15 years of age, of any sex or gender, in English and Spanish. RESULTS: 16 articles were included in this theoretical review. The prevalence of mental disorders within the prison population is high; depression, anxiety, substance use and psychotic disorders predominate. The importance of having mental health programmes in prisons, with initial diagnosis and personalized interventions, was observed. The authors recommend psychopharmacological interventions and cognitive behavioural management. DISCUSSION: The need to restructure the mental health approach in prisons was evidenced, and early diagnosis and personalized follow-up should be guaranteed. Pharmacological intervention and, to a greater degree, cognitive behavioural therapy seem to be effective for these types of patients.

Trastornos mentales y del comportamiento en el contexto carcelario y penitenciario / Mental and behavioral disorders in the prison context

Introducción: Durante el cumplimiento de condenas en unidades carcelarias, existen deficiencias dentro de los mecanismos deadaptación de las personas privadas de la libertad, esto varía dependiendo del lugar donde cumplan la sanción y el tiempo deestancia.Objetivos: Recopilar información sobre la prevalencia de trastornos mentales y del comportamiento en el ámbito carcelario ypenitenciario, así como la importancia de una intervención psiquiátrica temprana.Material y método: Revisión teórica. Fuentes de información primarias: artículos científicos de revistas indexadas, en buscadores de información médica especializados. Se incluyeron publicaciones sobre trastornos mentales y del comportamiento enel contexto carcelario y penitenciario, desde enero del 2016 hasta abril de 2021, originales, con diseño analítico, observacional,prospectivo, retrospectivo, transversal y aleatorizado, revisiones sistemáticas y metaanálisis, artículos completos, realizados encualquier país, con sujetos mayores de 15 años, de cualquier sexo o género, en idioma inglés y español.Resultados: Se incluyeron 16 artículos en esta revisión teórica. La prevalencia de trastornos mentales dentro de la poblaciónpenitenciaria es elevada; predominan los trastornos depresivos, de ansiedad, por consumo de sustancias y psicóticos. Se observóla importancia de contar con programas de salud mental en las instituciones carcelarias, con diagnóstico inicial e intervencionespersonalizadas. Los autores recomiendan intervenciones psicofarmacológicas y manejo cognitivo conductual.Discusión: Se evidenció la necesidad de reestructurar el abordaje en salud mental de los centros carcelarios, garantizando eldiagnóstico precoz y un seguimiento personalizado. La intervención farmacológica y, en mayor grado, la terapia cognitiva conductual parece ser efectivas en este tipo de pacientes. (AU)

Introduction: During the execution of sentences in prison units, there are deficiencies within the adaptation mechanisms ofpersons deprived of liberty, this varies depending on the place where they serve the sanction and the length of stay in it.Objectives: To collect information on the prevalence of mental and behavioural disorders in the prison setting, as well as theimportance of early psychiatric intervention.Material and method: Theoretical review. Primary sources of information: scientific articles from indexed journals, in specialized medical information search engines. Original publications on mental and behavioural disorders in the prison and prisoncontext were included, from 2016 to April 2021, with an analytical, observational, prospective, retrospective, cross-sectionaland randomized design, systematic reviews and meta-analyzes, complete articles, carried out in any country, with subjects over15 years of age, of any sex or gender, in English and Spanish.Results: 16 articles were included in this theoretical review. The prevalence of mental disorders within the prison populationis high; depression, anxiety, substance use and psychotic disorders predominate. The importance of having mental health programmes in prisons, with initial diagnosis and personalized interventions, was observed. The authors recommend psychopharmacological interventions and cognitive behavioural management. Discussion: The need to restructure the mental health approach in prisons was evidenced, and early diagnosis and personalizedfollow-up should be guaranteed. Pharmacological intervention and, to a greater degree, cognitive behavioural therapy seem tobe effective for these types of patients. (AU)