Psychiatric Morbidity and Diagnostic Latency among Hungarian Juvenile Offenders
M. Z. Bellavics, N. E. Baráth, J. HallerIntroduction
The high prevalence of psychiatric disorders among juvenile offenders has been well documented (Odgers et al. , Can Child Adolesc Psychiatr Rev 2005; 14:26–29). Although most detention facilities conduct an initial medical screening as part of standard intake procedures, substantial evidence indicates that a significant proportion of mental disorders remain undetected. (Mitchell et al. , J Forensic Psychiatry Psychol 2011; 22:381–394). Consequently, despite extensive research efforts, the true extent and nature of psychiatric morbidity among juvenile offenders remain a controversial.
Objectives
The aim of the present study was to examine the mental health status of juvenile offenders in Hungary. The study design included both cross-sectional and retrospective approaches.
Methods
The research sample consisted of 103 male juvenile offenders with a mean age of 16.4 years (SD = 1.317). The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents (MINI-KID; Sheehan et al., J Clin Psychiatry 2010; 71:3013–326) was administered. In addition, a brief interview focusing on medical history, along with a retrospective analysis of medical records, was conducted.
Results
Based on clinical records, the prevalence of psychiatric disorders was 34% (N = 35). During the interviews, 61.5% (N = 64) of the participants reported at least one prior mental health intervention. According to the MINI-KID assessment, 98.1% (N = 101) of the juvenile offenders met the diagnostic criteria for at least one mental disorder. The mean number of comorbid psychiatric disorders identified by the MINI-KID was 7.07 (SD = 3.448). As shown in Figure 1, the rate of psychiatric morbidity varied substantially depending on the assessment method.