PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH OF PRISONERS (AZERBAIJAN CASE)

Abstract

The main object of this study is to assess the prevalence of mental illness (diagnosis) and symptoms of psychopathology, evaluate the correlation between variables. (Independent variables: age, imprisonment years, marital status. Dependent variables: psychopathological symptoms). The survey study was conducted among inmates at correctional facilities in Azerbaijan. Participants were conducted from January 2023-March 2023. A total of participants was 45 male prisoners. Prisoners reported lifetime or current diagnosis of depression, anxiety, guilt feelings, tension, mental retardation and other disorder, as well as current mental health symptoms. Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale-BPRS was used to measure the symptoms, and SPSS program for analyzing the statistics. Of the 50 inmates invited to participate, 45 (90%) of them were consistent with research (mean [SD] age, 41,1 [5.3] years; 45 [100%] male; imprisonment years 9,51 [2.9]; 26 [57,8%] of them have previous imprisonment experience, 19 [42,2%] of them don’t have any punishment before). A statistically significant positive correlation was examined between the increasing age factor of the prisoner and the symptoms of somatic anxiety, thought disorders, tension, mannerism and posturing, slowness of movements, disruption of social cooperation, unusual content of thoughts, blunting of affect (r= 0.633* *,*p<0.05, **p<0.01); a positive significance statistical correlation was examined between the increasing sentence duration and the mental health problems (r= 0.459**,*p<0.05, **p<0.01); Mental health problems of persons who had previous prison experience were higher than persons convicted for the first time, respectively: 31.7±10.1 and 28.53±9.4 (F=2.64; p=0.111; t=-1,08; df=43); Lack of family support was followed by negative consequences in their mental health. Thus, the total index of mental disorders in unmarried persons is 25.4±9.8; 27.06±6.4 in married people; 40±5.6 was obtained in divorced and isolated individuals. Moreover, educational factor of the prisoners shows its effect in maintaining their emotional stability and knowledge about mental health problems.

Keywords

• Inmates, Prisoners, Mental Health of Inmates, Psychopathological Symptoms.