Browsing by Author "Laivonen, Petra"

Objective: The amount of prisoners suffering from psychotic disorders has been increasing in Finland over the past decades. The aim of this study was to examine the lifetime prevalence of ICD-10 psychotic disorders (F20-F29) and comorbid substance use disorders and personality disorders in Finnish prison population in 2020s. The aim was also to study how gender, solitary confinement, crime type, forensic psychiatric examination and lifetime imprisonment are associated to lifetime psychotic disorders in Finnish prison population. Methods: The sample of this study (n=295) is part of the Health and well-being of prisoners 2023 (WATTU IV) study, where psychotic disorders, substance use disorders and personality disorders were evaluated using semistructured SCID-I and SCID-II interviews. The associations of gender, solitary confinement, crime type, forensic psychiatric examination and lifetime imprisonment to lifetime psychotic disorders were examined using logistic regression analysis. Results: Eight percent of study participants had a lifetime psychotic disorder. Comorbid substance use disorders and personality disorders were very common among these prisoners. This study found statistically significant associations between both gender and solitary confinement to lifetime psychotic disorders. Female prisoners had a five-time elevated risk for lifetime psychotic disorder compared to male prisoners. Those prisoners who had ever been in solitary confinement due to disciplinary actions had a three-time elevated risk for lifetime psychotic disorder compared to those who hadn’t, and those who had ever been to solitary confinement due to personal request had a 4.5-time elevated risk for lifetime psychotic disorders compared to those who hadn’t. Conclusion: This study cautiously indicates that the prevalence of psychotic disorders in Finnish population may continue to be on the rise. However, due to comparability challenges between previous studies, any conclusions need to be made with caution. According to this study the prevalence of lifetime psychotic disorders is four times higher in prison population compared to population outside prison. Female gender and solitary confinement seem to increase the risk of psychotic disorder. High substance use disorder and personality disorder comorbidity among prisoners suffering from psychotic disorders reflects the complex nature of prisoner mental health, an issue needed to be carefully addressed when planning and executing treatment during and after imprisonment.