A needs assessment protocol which examines 11 problem areas was devised. This was administered to 277 prisoners on remand at Brixton Prison. We found high levels of unmet need for housing, treatment of substance abuse and neurotic symptoms. Twenty-nine per cent were transferred to hospital under the provisions of the Mental Health Act and about a third of those at liberty to do so complied with a discharge plan. Diversion and discharge planning can potentially meet the unmet needs of remand prisoners.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BanerjeeS.O'Neil-ByrneK.ExworthyT.ParrottJ. (1995) The Belmarsh Scheme. A prospective study of the transfer of mentally disordered remand prisoners to psychiatric units. Br. J. Psychiat.166, 802–5.
2.
BirminghamL.MasonD.GrubinD. (1996) Prevalence of mental disorder in remand prisoners: a consecutive case study. BMJ.313, 1521–4.
3.
BrewinC.R.WingJ.K.MangenS.P.BrughaT.S.MacCarthyB. (1987) Principles and practice of measuring needs in the long-term mentally ill: the MRC Needs for Care Assessment. Psychol. Med.17, 971–81.
4.
BrookeD.TaylorC.J.GunnJ.MadenA. (1996) Point prevalence of mental disorder in unconvicted male prisoners in England and Wales. BMJ.313, 1524–7.
5.
DavidsonM.HumphreysM.S.JohnstoneE.C.Cunningham OwensD.G. (1995) Prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among remand prisoners in Scotland. Br. J. Psychiat.167, 545–8.
6.
Department of Health and the Home Office (1992) Review of Health and Social Services for Mentally Disordered Offenders and Others Requiring Similar Services: Final Summary Report. DOH.
7.
RobertsonG.DellS.JamesK.GroundsA. (1994) Psychotic men remanded in custody to Brixton Prison. Br. J. Psychiat.164, 55–61.
8.
TaylorJ.P.GunnJ. (1984) Violence and psychosis: 1 — Risk of violence among psychotic men. BMJ.288, 1945–9.
9.
TeplinL.A. (1990) The presence of mental disorder among male urban detainees: comparison with the epidemiologic catchment area programme. Am. J. Pub. Health80, 663–9.
10.
World Health Organization (1992) The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines. Geneva, World Health Organization.
