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Psychiatric Symptoms, Cognitive Stress and Vulnerability Factors

A Study in a Remand Prison

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Timothy Harding  and
Erwin Zimmermann
Timothy Harding
Affiliation:
Chargé de recherche, Institut Universitaire de Médecine Légale, CMU, 9, Avenue de Champel, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland
Erwin Zimmermann
Affiliation:
Chargé de recherche, Institut Universitaire de Médecine Légale, CMU, 9, Avenue de Champel, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland
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Abstract

In a consecutive sample of 208 male prisoners interviewed on the tenth day (T1) after entry, high levels of psychiatric symptoms as measured by the GHQ were recorded. These GHQ scores were strongly correlated with perceived worries and concerns of the prisoners (‘cognitive stress’). After 60 days of detention (T2), a significant fall in GHQ scores was observed, and they were still correlated with cognitive stress. A significant negative correlation between cognitive stress at T1 and GHQ scores at T2 was observed. The relationship between potential vulnerability factors (life experiences, social network, personality factors) and GHQ scores was not strong at either T1 or T2. Psychiatric symptoms are common during the early phase of imprisonment but are not durable.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 155 , Issue 1 , July 1989 , pp. 36 - 43
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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