Psychiatric Disorders in Incarcerated Women: Treatment and Rehabilitation Needs for Successful Community Reentry

Abstract

Psychiatric disorders in women are often contributing factors to criminality and often result in incarceration. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among incarcerated women is much higher than women in the general population, and it is higher than among incarcerated men. Prisons and jails across the United States are now responsible for mental health treatment; however, this treatment has been inconsistent and minimal. The rehabilitation process for incarcerated women occurs in three phases: in prison, during the transition period from prison to the community, and within the community. Treatment during these three phases must address issues specific to women including sexual abuse, domestic violence, parenting, and substance abuse. This paper proposes a rehabilitation model that includes comprehensive, gender-specific treatment, and services for women offenders during all three phases of rehabilitation.

Pregnancy unshackled: Increasing equity through implementation of perinatal depression screening, shared decision making, and treatment for incarcerated women

“…The reduced refusal rates found are significant as an indicator of trust building and patient engagement that is consistent with results seen in patient partnership ratings of providers when trauma informed care was utilized . Patients with a trauma history report that having a sense of control in care and decision making is a key element to overcoming fear and distrust in medical care and in reducing recidivism . This is consistent with our findings, that the more comfortable and competent the provider became with screening and shared decision aids, the lower the refusal rate became.…”

“…According to the most recent data reported by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), in 2012 women represented 9% of the incarcerated population in the United States . This is an eightfold increase over the last 30 years and nationwide approximately 6% to 10% of incarcerated women are pregnant at any given time, with up to 25% arriving either pregnant or having delivered in the last year …”

Hazardously Drinking Jailed Women: Post-Release Perceived Needs and Risk of Reincarceration

“…It is clear that hazardously drinking women perceive their own needs for treatment, and that this needs perception links to poorer outcomes. These associations are consistent with prior research (Lynch et al, 2014; McPhail, Falvo, & Burker, 2012; Nowotny, Belknap, Lynch, & DeHart, 2014; Scott & Dennis, 2012) and suggest that women who are unable to access relevant treatment services early after release are less likely than those without such needs to successfully remain in their communities. It may also be that women who identify a need for treatment may be more likely to partake and respond to treatment, though this question needs to be explored in future investigations.…”

Coping mechanisms adopted by women ex-offenders in Nyeri County, Kenya

“…Prisons and jails often overlook issues that are specific to female inmates (McPhail, Falvo, & Burker, 2012). When women are treated using programs that were designed for men, and traditionally used with men, their gender-specific needs are not being considered.…”