JOURNAL ARTICLE

Prevalence of mental illness among Australian and New Zealand people in prison: A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published over five decades.

  • Published In: Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2024, v. 58, n. 12. P. 1034 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Yee, Natalia; Browne, Christie; Rahman, Farzana; Dean, Kimberlie 3 of 3

Abstract

This article systematically reviews and meta-analyzes studies on the prevalence of mental illness, including psychotic disorders, among adult prisoners in Australia and New Zealand. Based on 17 studies encompassing 10,209 incarcerated individuals, the pooled lifetime prevalence of any mental illness was 69.0%, with current prevalence at 54.0%; for psychosis specifically, lifetime prevalence was 9.1% and current prevalence 6.4%. The review found substantial variation between studies and identified an increasing trend in lifetime psychosis prevalence over time, contrasting with stable rates of other mental illnesses. These findings highlight the high burden of mental illness in prisons and underscore the need for improved mental health services and diversion strategies within the criminal justice systems of both countries.

Additional Information

  • Source:Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2024/12, Vol. 58, Issue 12, p1034
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Consumer Health
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:0004-8674
  • DOI:10.1177/00048674241271916
  • Accession Number:181053474
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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