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The problem of co-occurring disorders among jail detainees

Antisocial disorder, alcoholism, drug abuse, and depression

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Law and Human Behavior

Abstract

This paper documents the degree and pattern of overlap of antisocial disorder. alcoholism. drug use disorders, and major depression among 688 randomly selected male jail detainees. Diagnostic assessments were made using the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Data indicate that multiple disorders are a serious problem among male detainees. Detainees were more likely to have two or three disorders than to have a single disorder. Of detainees, 44% had a lifetime prevalence of two or more of these syndromes. Few subjects with multiple disorders were found to have primary, or initial onset of, substance abuse disorders or primary depression. Rather, antisocial disorder predominated as the primary syndrome in diagnostic profiles. The preponderance of antisocial disorder among codisordered detainees is disturbing because it is a poor prognostic indicator. Implications for substance abuse intervention, treatment of depression, and intervention with antisocial personality disorder among detainees are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestem University Medical School, 215 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 706, 60611, Chicago, Illinois

    Karen M. Abram

  2. Psycho-legal Studies Program, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 215 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 706, 60611, Chicago, Illinois

    Karen M. Abram

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  1. Karen M. Abram
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Additional information

This work was supported by Grant No. MH37988 from the National Institute of Mental Health, and Grant No. 87-IJ-CX-0033 from the National Institute of Justice, Dr. Linda A. teplin, principal investigator. The author would like to thank Dr. Teplin for her guidance in preparing the manuscript, Giovanni Moneta and Dr. Gary McClelland for their advice on the data analysis, and Laura Coats for her competent editorial support.

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Abram, K.M. The problem of co-occurring disorders among jail detainees. Law Hum Behav 14, 333–345 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01068160

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