Abstract
Recent research has documented the unusually high rates of incarcerated women’s serious mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorders (SUD). Complicating these high rates is the high comorbidity of SMI with SUD and trauma histories. Yet, incarcerated women have significantly less access to treatment and health services while incarcerated than men. We used data from a multi-site, multi-method project funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (2011–2012) to determine the risk profile of women in jail (n = 491) with a current co-occurring SMI (i.e., major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorder) and SUD (i.e., abuse, dependence). The study spanned multiple geographic regions, and structured diagnostic interviews were used to understand better the women that comprised this vulnerable population. One-in-five of the women had a current co-occurring disorder (CCOD). The findings revealed that significantly more women with a CCOD had been exposed to violence and were exposed to drugs at a younger age. Further, about one-third of women with a CCOD had received no treatment from a health care professional in the past year, demonstrating a substantial unmet need. We conclude that investing in mental and behavioral health care in jails is critical to the health and safety of women as well as the communities to which they return.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 781-795 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Women and Health |
| Volume | 54 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2014 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- co-occurring disorders
- serious mental illness
- substance use disorders
- women in jail
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Risk Profile and Treatment Needs of Women in Jail with Co-Occurring Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders. / Nowotny, Kathryn; Belknap, Joanne; Lynch, Shannon; DeHart, Dana.
In: Women and Health, Vol. 54, No. 8, 01.01.2014, p. 781-795.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Risk Profile and Treatment Needs of Women in Jail with Co-Occurring Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders
AU - Nowotny, Kathryn
AU - Belknap, Joanne
AU - Lynch, Shannon
AU - DeHart, Dana
PY - 2014/1/1
Y1 - 2014/1/1
N2 - Recent research has documented the unusually high rates of incarcerated women’s serious mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorders (SUD). Complicating these high rates is the high comorbidity of SMI with SUD and trauma histories. Yet, incarcerated women have significantly less access to treatment and health services while incarcerated than men. We used data from a multi-site, multi-method project funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (2011–2012) to determine the risk profile of women in jail (n = 491) with a current co-occurring SMI (i.e., major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorder) and SUD (i.e., abuse, dependence). The study spanned multiple geographic regions, and structured diagnostic interviews were used to understand better the women that comprised this vulnerable population. One-in-five of the women had a current co-occurring disorder (CCOD). The findings revealed that significantly more women with a CCOD had been exposed to violence and were exposed to drugs at a younger age. Further, about one-third of women with a CCOD had received no treatment from a health care professional in the past year, demonstrating a substantial unmet need. We conclude that investing in mental and behavioral health care in jails is critical to the health and safety of women as well as the communities to which they return.
AB - Recent research has documented the unusually high rates of incarcerated women’s serious mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorders (SUD). Complicating these high rates is the high comorbidity of SMI with SUD and trauma histories. Yet, incarcerated women have significantly less access to treatment and health services while incarcerated than men. We used data from a multi-site, multi-method project funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (2011–2012) to determine the risk profile of women in jail (n = 491) with a current co-occurring SMI (i.e., major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorder) and SUD (i.e., abuse, dependence). The study spanned multiple geographic regions, and structured diagnostic interviews were used to understand better the women that comprised this vulnerable population. One-in-five of the women had a current co-occurring disorder (CCOD). The findings revealed that significantly more women with a CCOD had been exposed to violence and were exposed to drugs at a younger age. Further, about one-third of women with a CCOD had received no treatment from a health care professional in the past year, demonstrating a substantial unmet need. We conclude that investing in mental and behavioral health care in jails is critical to the health and safety of women as well as the communities to which they return.
KW - co-occurring disorders
KW - serious mental illness
KW - substance use disorders
KW - women in jail
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84911956033&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84911956033&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/03630242.2014.932892
DO - 10.1080/03630242.2014.932892
M3 - Article
C2 - 25204664
AN - SCOPUS:84911956033
VL - 54
SP - 781
EP - 795
JO - Women and Health
JF - Women and Health
SN - 0363-0242
IS - 8
ER -