Psychopathic traits in a representative sample of Finnish male prisoners.

Background: The psychopathic traits measured with the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) in a representative national prisoner sample have not been studied in Finland before. It has been unclear whether there could occur some national differences or whether the PCL-R can be used for assessing psychopathic traits in the Finnish forensic settings.

Aims: Our aim was to study the distribution of psychopathic traits in the Finnish male prisoners as well as the correlations of these traits with DSM-IV disorders and to compare the sample with similar samples of Europe and America.

Finnish female prisoners - heavy consumers of health services.

Aims: Previous prison studies show that female prisoners often have more health problems than male prisoners do and that they have many chronic health conditions. Few studies have been made among offenders concerning the use of health services, and even fewer concerning physical diseases. We studied the self-reported lifetime somatic diseases, the use of health services and the current use of prescription medicines among Finnish female prisoners and compared them with males.

Work ability and treatment needs among Finnish female prisoners.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assess the work ability and employment history of Finnish female prisoners and their need for treatment.

Design/methodology/approach: The sample consisted of 101 female prisoners, with 309 male prisoners for comparison. The methods included interviews, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I, II Disorders and medical examination including ICD-10 diagnoses.

The changing picture of substance abuse problems among Finnish prisoners.

Purpose: Marginalized people are often absent from population surveys of substance use and from research based on care data. Special methods are needed to reach these small but very significant groups. This study analyses how patterns of intoxicant use have changed over time among one of the most marginalized group of people, the prisoners.

Drug use among prisoners: by any definition, it's a big problem.

According to several studies, the prevalence of drug use (1) among prisoners is manyfold compared to general population. However, comparisons across studies are hampered by the use of a variety of mutually noncomparable methodologies. We report substance use among Finnish prisoners using three methods and analyze these differences.

Childhood maltreatment and mental disorders among Finnish prisoners.

Purpose: In a health survey of Finnish prisoners in 2006, the authors aimed to study frequency and gender differences in childhood physical and sexual abuse, and the connections of maltreatment in childhood to substance abuse and mental health among female and male prisoners.

Design/methodology/approach: The sample consisted of 101 female prisoners, with 309 male prisoners for comparison. The subjects participated in a comprehensive field study consisting of several questionnaires, interviews, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I and II Disorders (SCID I, II) and a clinical medical examination including ICD-10 diagnoses.