Prevalence of mental disorders amongst inmates receiving psychopharmacological treatment at Zuera prison.

Abstract

Objectives: Mental illness is a very common issue in the prison population. This study set out to analyse the prevalence of mental disorders among inmates at Zuera Prison (Zaragoza).

Material and method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in September 2023, including inmates undergoing active treatment with psychotropic drugs. The sample included 598 prisoners (560 men and 38 women), with a mean age of 39.3 years for men and 41.3 years for women.

Results: The results showed that neurotic disorders were the most prevalent in both sexes (47% men, 55.30% women), followed by disorders due to psychoactive substance use (35.40% men, 23.70% women) and, in third place, personality disorders. Significant differences were observed in the distribution of diagnoses according to gender, nationality and recidivism: repeat offenders had a higher prevalence of drug-related disorders, while first-time offenders had more neurotic disorders. The foreign population showed a lower association with drug-related pathologies than the Spanish population.

Discussion: The high prevalence of mental health disorders observed, and the differences found according to sociodemographic and prison-related characteristics, highlight the need to strengthen strategies for early detection, prevention and comprehensive mental health care within the prison system, particularly for individuals with a history of reoffending and substance-use disorders.