The prevalence and comorbidity of mental health and substance use disorders in Scandinavian prisons 2010–2019: a multi-national register study
Abstract Background Mental health disorders are common among people in prison, but their prevalence in the Scandinavian prison population remain unclear. In this multinational register study, we examined the prevalence of mental health disorders and the comorbidity of substance use disorders (SUDs)...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05540-6 |
| _version_ | 1797273657516490752 |
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| author | Anne Bukten Suvi Virtanen Morten Hesse Zheng Chang Timo Lehmann Kvamme Birgitte Thylstrup Torill Tverborgvik Ingeborg Skjærvø Marianne R. Stavseth |
| author_facet | Anne Bukten Suvi Virtanen Morten Hesse Zheng Chang Timo Lehmann Kvamme Birgitte Thylstrup Torill Tverborgvik Ingeborg Skjærvø Marianne R. Stavseth |
| author_sort | Anne Bukten |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Mental health disorders are common among people in prison, but their prevalence in the Scandinavian prison population remain unclear. In this multinational register study, we examined the prevalence of mental health disorders and the comorbidity of substance use disorders (SUDs) with other mental health disorders in this population. Further, we investigated how the prevalence of mental disorders at prison entry had changed in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden over the study period. Methods The three study cohorts included all individuals, aged 19 or older, whom had been imprisoned in Norway (2010–2019), Denmark (2011–2018), and Sweden (2010–2013). Mental disorders were defined as ICD-10 diagnoses (F-codes) registered in the national patient registers. The study prevalence was estimated based on recorded diagnoses during the entire study follow-up period in each respective country. The one-year prevalence of mental disorders was estimated for each calendar year for individuals entering prison during that year. Results The Scandinavian prison cohorts included 119 507 individuals released 191 549 times during the study period. Across all three countries a high proportion of both women (61.3%-74.4%) and men (49.6%-57.9%) had at least one mental health disorder during the observation period. The most prevalent disorders were SUDs (39.1%-44.0%), depressive disorder (8.1%-17.5%), and stress related disorder (8.8%-17.1%). Women (31.8%-41.1%) had higher levels of mental health and substance use comorbidities compared to men (20.8%-27.6%). The one-year prevalence of any mental health disorder increased over time with a 33% relative increase in Norway, 8% in Denmark, and 10% in Sweden. The proportion of individuals entering prison with a comorbid SUD and other mental disorder had also increased. Conclusions While the incarceration rate has been decreasing during the past decade in the Scandinavian countries, an increasing proportion of people entering prison have a diagnosed mental health disorder. Our results suggest that prisons should provide adequate treatment and scale up services to accommodate the increasing proportion of people with complex health needs among incarcerated people. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:47:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3e5215ff7b804320b8ff8221538c8691 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:47:28Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-3e5215ff7b804320b8ff8221538c86912024-03-05T19:53:20ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2024-02-0124111010.1186/s12888-024-05540-6The prevalence and comorbidity of mental health and substance use disorders in Scandinavian prisons 2010–2019: a multi-national register studyAnne Bukten0Suvi Virtanen1Morten Hesse2Zheng Chang3Timo Lehmann Kvamme4Birgitte Thylstrup5Torill Tverborgvik6Ingeborg Skjærvø7Marianne R. Stavseth8Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research, University of OsloDepartment of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska InstitutetCenter for Alcohol and Drug Research, Aarhus UniversityDepartment of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska InstitutetCenter for Alcohol and Drug Research, Aarhus UniversityCenter for Alcohol and Drug Research, Aarhus UniversityNorwegian Centre for Addiction Research, University of OsloDivision of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University HospitalNorwegian Centre for Addiction Research, University of OsloAbstract Background Mental health disorders are common among people in prison, but their prevalence in the Scandinavian prison population remain unclear. In this multinational register study, we examined the prevalence of mental health disorders and the comorbidity of substance use disorders (SUDs) with other mental health disorders in this population. Further, we investigated how the prevalence of mental disorders at prison entry had changed in Norway, Denmark, and Sweden over the study period. Methods The three study cohorts included all individuals, aged 19 or older, whom had been imprisoned in Norway (2010–2019), Denmark (2011–2018), and Sweden (2010–2013). Mental disorders were defined as ICD-10 diagnoses (F-codes) registered in the national patient registers. The study prevalence was estimated based on recorded diagnoses during the entire study follow-up period in each respective country. The one-year prevalence of mental disorders was estimated for each calendar year for individuals entering prison during that year. Results The Scandinavian prison cohorts included 119 507 individuals released 191 549 times during the study period. Across all three countries a high proportion of both women (61.3%-74.4%) and men (49.6%-57.9%) had at least one mental health disorder during the observation period. The most prevalent disorders were SUDs (39.1%-44.0%), depressive disorder (8.1%-17.5%), and stress related disorder (8.8%-17.1%). Women (31.8%-41.1%) had higher levels of mental health and substance use comorbidities compared to men (20.8%-27.6%). The one-year prevalence of any mental health disorder increased over time with a 33% relative increase in Norway, 8% in Denmark, and 10% in Sweden. The proportion of individuals entering prison with a comorbid SUD and other mental disorder had also increased. Conclusions While the incarceration rate has been decreasing during the past decade in the Scandinavian countries, an increasing proportion of people entering prison have a diagnosed mental health disorder. Our results suggest that prisons should provide adequate treatment and scale up services to accommodate the increasing proportion of people with complex health needs among incarcerated people.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05540-6PrisonIncarcerationMental healthComorbidityRecord-linkageCriminal justice |
| spellingShingle | Anne Bukten Suvi Virtanen Morten Hesse Zheng Chang Timo Lehmann Kvamme Birgitte Thylstrup Torill Tverborgvik Ingeborg Skjærvø Marianne R. Stavseth The prevalence and comorbidity of mental health and substance use disorders in Scandinavian prisons 2010–2019: a multi-national register study BMC Psychiatry Prison Incarceration Mental health Comorbidity Record-linkage Criminal justice |
| title | The prevalence and comorbidity of mental health and substance use disorders in Scandinavian prisons 2010–2019: a multi-national register study |
| title_full | The prevalence and comorbidity of mental health and substance use disorders in Scandinavian prisons 2010–2019: a multi-national register study |
| title_fullStr | The prevalence and comorbidity of mental health and substance use disorders in Scandinavian prisons 2010–2019: a multi-national register study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The prevalence and comorbidity of mental health and substance use disorders in Scandinavian prisons 2010–2019: a multi-national register study |
| title_short | The prevalence and comorbidity of mental health and substance use disorders in Scandinavian prisons 2010–2019: a multi-national register study |
| title_sort | prevalence and comorbidity of mental health and substance use disorders in scandinavian prisons 2010 2019 a multi national register study |
| topic | Prison Incarceration Mental health Comorbidity Record-linkage Criminal justice |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05540-6 |
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