Prevalence of traumatic brain injury and mental health problems among individuals within the criminal justice system

Over the last decade, studies have highlighted that young people with disproportionately high and multiple needs have clustered in the juvenile justice system. These young people experience higher levels of diagnosable mental health problems and neurodisability than the general population. This chapter provides a developmental approach to understanding the needs of young people in contact with the criminal justice system. It reviews the prevalence of a range of mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders in young offenders and describes the key principles of assessment and intervention approaches. The policy and legal framework have been illustrated by reference to the system in England but will have relevance to readers from further afield.

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Women in Prison With Traumatic Brain Injury: Prevalence, Mechanism, and Impact on Mental Health

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology ◽

10.1177/0306624x17726519 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 62 (10) ◽

pp. 3135-3150 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rachel Woolhouse ◽

Audrey McKinlay ◽

Randolph C. Grace

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Prison Population ◽

Female Offenders ◽

Health Problems ◽

Treatment Programs ◽

Increased Risk ◽

History Of

Relatively little is known about the characteristics of female offenders. Here, we studied the prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and mental health issues in an exclusively female prison population in New Zealand. Participants ( N = 38) were recruited from all security levels at Christchurch Women’s Prison. Measures for depression, anxiety, and stress, sleep, and a history of TBI were administered; 94.7% (36/38) of participants presented with a history of TBI. Younger age at first injury was associated with an increased risk of mental health problems. The study concludes that TBI is highly prevalent among female offenders and may be linked to increased mental health problems. TBI should be considered as an important factor in offender pathways and treatment programs.

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Mental Health is Central to Good Neurorehabilitation after TBI

Brain Impairment ◽

10.1017/brimp.2013.14 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 2-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Simon Fleminger

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Psychiatric Care ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Health Problems ◽

Rehabilitation Services ◽

England And Wales ◽

Loved One ◽

The Disabled

Those after traumatic brain injury (TBI) who suffer mental health problems, by which I mean problems that a psychiatrist might understand as falling within their remit, suffer a double whammy. Not only do they suffer the stigma of the disabled, but even within this group they may be stigmatised. It has often been my experience that while families will allow for their injured loved one to be under the care of rehabilitation services, including a psychologist, they baulk at the possibility that their loved one may need psychiatric care. This comes to a head when it comes to detaining a patient, in England and Wales, under the Mental Health Act; this may be vigorously resisted by family because of what they infer this says about their loved one's sanity.

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