Psychological screening service for newly-admitted inmates in the Parma Penitentiary Institutes: process analysis after 1 year of clinical activity

Abstract

Aim - Screening for mental disorders in Italian prisoners is still a problematic issue, although crucial for early detection/intervention on severe psychopathology and pathological addiction, especially in young people. The aims of this study were: (a) to describe a systematic psychological screening (aimed at preventing suicide risk and at early identifying mental disorder and drug abuse in newly admitted inmates) implemented since January 2020 within the service for new prisoners at the Parma Penitentiary Institutes (PPI), and (b) to perform a process analysis after one year of clinical activity. Methods - A detailed description of the PPI psychological screening for newly admitted inmates was made. We then performed a descriptive statistical analysis on process indicators after one year of clinical activity. Results - 303 newly-admitted prisoners were enrolled in the study (167 [55.1%] affected by primary substance use disorder and 30 [9.9%] by primary mental disorder). 8 (2.6%) prisoners showed current suicidal ideation. 151 (49.8%) subjects were retained in care within the PPI mental healthcare service. Conclusions - Our findings support the applicability and a good prisoners’ acceptability for a systematic psychological screening service for Italian newly-received inmates, mainly aimed at preventing suicide risk, at early identifying mental disorders and at quickly planning a person-tailored therapeutic-rehabilitation program.