Female prisoners with substance use disorders have high rates of comorbid affective, personality, and anxiety disorders, report Dr. Jan Mir and coauthors.
A study of 150 female prisoners admitted to the penal justice system in Berlin found that 62% of inmates had substance use disorders and 33% had substance abuse or dependence. Of prisoners with substance use disorders, 90% had at least one other comorbid disorder, such as affective disorders, personality disorders, or anxiety disorders, Dr. Mir and colleagues reported.
The findings suggest that interventions for female inmates should aim to “address different comorbid mental health problems in a flexible manner,” the authors said.
Read the full report from Addictive Behaviors here.