[Value of drug screening in granting leave of absence to prisoners].

Permitting prisoners to leave the prison for a certain time is one basic element of rehabilitation. As a rule, the inmate is not allowed to leave the prison before a psychologist or psychiatrist is consulted. A considerable number of criminals have committed crimes under the influence of addictive drugs.

Long-term imprisonment leads to cognitive impairment.

The effects of long-term imprisonment on cognitive functions are investigated in a longitudinal study. Twenty-four serious offenders in an Austrian penitentiary underwent concentration and memory performance measurements via a questionnaire presented to them under controlled conditions in two sessions at a 42 month interval. The difference in the parameters indicated cognitive impairment after this period that was highly significant (P < 0.

[Drug screening in an Austrian prison].

In the Austrian prison Graz, a randomized group of 64 prisoners (12.5% out of 512 total) was selected to investigate patterns of drug abuse. From this group.

Anxiety in prisoners today.

Models based on modern theories of anxiety were used to develop a hypothesis concerned with the relationship of anxiety and/or the tendency to aggressive behavior and the tendency to depressive reactions in prisoners. Anxiety, aggression and depression scales were the instruments used in this study. Special emphasis was placed on the question as to whether there is a quantitative difference in anxiety and aggression in non-working as compared with working prisoners.