Trouble sleeping inside: a cross-sectional study of the prevalence and associated risk factors of insomnia in adult prison populations in England.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of insomnia and identify associated demographic, clinical and forensic risk factors in adult prisoners in England.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 237 prisoners aged 18-72 years, across two male prisons and one female prison in North England. We used the Sleep Condition Indicator to measure probable DSM-V insomnia disorder (ID) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to examine sleep quality.

Insomnia management in prisons in England and Wales: a mixed-methods study.

Insomnia in prison is common; however, research is limited regarding the management strategies that prison establishments employ. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a survey to identify how insomnia is detected, diagnosed and treated in adult prisons in England and Wales. Telephone interviews with a purposive sample of health-care managers were then conducted.

Prevalence and appropriateness of psychotropic medication prescribing in a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of male and female prisoners in England.

Background: Mental illness is highly prevalent among prisoners. Although psychotropic medicines can ameliorate symptoms of mental illness, prescribers in prisons must balance clinical needs against risks to safety and security. Concerns have been raised at the large number of prisoners reportedly receiving psychotropic medicines in England.

The development of a mental health screening tool and referral pathway for police custody.

Background: Time spent in police custody should present an opportunity for the early identification of mental ill health. However, this stage of the criminal justice system (CJS) is currently the least developed in terms of its links with health and social services. In England, police custody sergeants administer a standardized risk assessment tool to determine a detainee's need for health-care and/or risk reduction measures while detained.

Social and custodial needs of older adults in prison.

Background: older prisoners are a fast-growing group but there is limited evidence for how well their needs are being met.

Objectives: to quantify the social and custodial needs of older prisoners and suggest improvements for service provision.

Design: cross-sectional study.

Filicide: mental illness in those who kill their children.

Background: Most child victims of homicide are killed by a parent or step-parent. This large population study provides a contemporary and detailed description of filicide perpetrators. We examined the relationship between filicide and mental illness at the time of the offence, and care received from mental health services in the past.

The health and social needs of older male prisoners.

Objectives: This study aimed to quantify the health and social needs of older male prisoners in the North West of England, to determine whether their needs were being met, and to explore an age cut-off for this group.

Methods: Data were collected by interview and case note review. Areas covered included physical health, mental health, personality disorder, cognitive impairment and social need.

Homicide of infants: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To describe the sociodemographic, clinical, and forensic characteristics of people convicted of killing infants, including their outcome in court and the gender differences in these characteristics.

Method: A consecutive case series of people convicted of infant homicide in England and Wales (1996-2001). Information on social demographic and clinical characteristics of perpetrators was collected from psychiatric reports prepared for court.