Early detection and early intervention in prison: Improving outcomes and reducing prison returns

TY - JOUR

T1 - Early detection and early intervention in prison

T2 - Improving outcomes and reducing prison returns

AU - Evans, Clare

AU - Forrester, Andrew

AU - Jarrett, Manuela

AU - Huddy, Vyv

AU - Campbell, Catherine

AU - Byrne, Majella

AU - Jamieson-Craig, Thomas Kern

AU - Valmaggia, Lucia Rita

PY - 2017/1

Y1 - 2017/1

N2 - Our aim was to investigate whether early detection was feasible in prison andwhether it could improve mental health outcomes in young prisoners. A secondary aim was to explore whether it can reduce returns to prison. Between 2011 and 2014, a total of 2115 young prisoners were screened, 94 (4.4%) met criteria for ultra-high risk for psychosis and were offered an intervention, 52 actually received it. Return to prison data were sought on the 52 participants, receiving a formal intervention. Of the 52 prisoners who received an intervention, 30.8% returned to custody compared to national average reconviction rates of between 45.4 and 66.5%. Our results suggest that early detection is a feasible option in a prison setting, improving mental health outcomes and reducing returns to prison. Mental health outcomes were recorded for a sub-sample of those receiving the intervention. The results indicated statistically significant improvements on measures of depression, anxiety and psychological distress.

AB - Our aim was to investigate whether early detection was feasible in prison andwhether it could improve mental health outcomes in young prisoners. A secondary aim was to explore whether it can reduce returns to prison. Between 2011 and 2014, a total of 2115 young prisoners were screened, 94 (4.4%) met criteria for ultra-high risk for psychosis and were offered an intervention, 52 actually received it. Return to prison data were sought on the 52 participants, receiving a formal intervention. Of the 52 prisoners who received an intervention, 30.8% returned to custody compared to national average reconviction rates of between 45.4 and 66.5%. Our results suggest that early detection is a feasible option in a prison setting, improving mental health outcomes and reducing returns to prison. Mental health outcomes were recorded for a sub-sample of those receiving the intervention. The results indicated statistically significant improvements on measures of depression, anxiety and psychological distress.

U2 - 10.1080/14789949.2016.1261174

DO - 10.1080/14789949.2016.1261174

M3 - Article

SN - 1478-9949

VL - 28

SP - 91

EP - 107

JO - The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology

JF - The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology

IS - 1

ER -