Mental health consultations in a prison population: a descriptive study.

Background: The psychiatric morbidity among prison inmates is substantially higher than in the general population. We do, however, have insufficient knowledge about the extent of psychiatric treatment provided in our prisons. The aim of the present study was to give a comprehensive description of all non-pharmacological interventions provided by the psychiatric health services to a stratified sample of prison inmates.

Can morbidity be inferred from prescription drug use? Results from a nation-wide prison population study.

Aim: To estimate psychiatric and somatic morbidity in a nation-wide prison population, as inferred from detailed medication sheets.

Method: Medication sheets from 37 prisons, covering 90% of the Norwegian prison population, were collected and examined by experienced clinicians. All inmates on medication were assigned best-estimate psychiatric and/or somatic diagnoses according to the International Classification of Primary Care diagnostic system.