Elderly in Prison: A Scoping review of Mental Health Problems
Abstract
Introduction: Elderly prisoners are a minority in the prison population but their number is increasing compared to other groups. Mental health problems in elderly prisoners can be caused by the length of the detention period, being separated from family and partners, and conflicts that occur between inmates in prison which worsen the mental health conditions of elderly prisoners. Research on mental health problems in elderly prisoners is also still limited.
Method: A scoping review study design was used. Articles searched through PubMed, EBSCO, ProQuest, Sage Journal, and Google Scholar. Articles published from 2000 to 2023. The keywords used in English are “Elderly”, “Mental Health Problems”, and “Prisoners.
Results: Of the nine articles analyzed, we found the mental health problems of elderly prisoners were anxiety, agoraphobia, depression, bipolar, personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide risk, mood disorders, psychosis spectrum disorders or schizophrenia, and alcohol abuse or dependence.
Conclusions: Based on several findings, it is recommended for further research focus on providing appropriate interventions for elderly prisoners who experience mental health problems, as well as identifying the extent of mental health services for elderly prisoners.
Downloads
References
International PR. Global Prison Trends 2021: Special Focus Prisons in crises2021.
Hidayati NO, Suryani S, Rahayuwati L, Dewi NS. Scoping Review of Mental Health Problems among Female Prisoners. Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences. 2021;9(T6):80-4.
Tarbuck A. Health of elderly prisoners. Oxford University Press; 2001. p. 369-70.
Carson EA. Prisoners in 2020–Statistical tables. Bureau of Justice Statistics. 2021;302776.
Annisa DF, Ifdil, I. Konsep Kecemasan (Anxiety) pada Lanjut Usia (Lansia). Konselor. 2016;5(2):93-9.
Arksey H, O'Malley L. Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology. 2005;8(1):19-32.
Kingston P, Le Mesurier N, Yorston G, Wardle S, Heath L. Psychiatric morbidity in older prisoners: unrecognized and undertreated. International Psychogeriatrics. 2011;23(8):1354-60.
Regan JJ, Alderson A, Regan WM. Psychiatric disorders in aging prisoners. Clinical Gerontologist: The Journal of Aging and Mental Health. 2002;26:117-24.
Murdoch N, Morris P, Holmes C. Depression in elderly life sentence prisoners. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry: A journal of the psychiatry of late life and allied sciences. 2008;23(9):957-62.
Fazel S, Hope T, O'Donnell I, Jacoby R. Hidden psychiatric morbidity in elderly prisoners. The British Journal of Psychiatry. 2001;179(6):535-9.
Combalbert N, Pennequin V, Ferrand C, Vandevyvère R, Armand M, Geffray B. Mental disorders and cognitive impairment in ageing offenders. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology. 2016;27:853-66.
Baidawi S. Older prisoners: psychological distress and associations with mental health history, cognitive functioning, socio-demographic, and criminal justice factors. International psychogeriatrics. 2016;28(3):385-95.
Allen RS, Phillips LL, Roff LL, Cavanaugh R, Day L. Religiousness/spirituality and mental health among older male inmates. The Gerontologist. 2008;48(5):692-7.
Fitton L, Bates A, Hayes A, Fazel S. Psychiatric disorders, substance use, and executive functioning in older probationers. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health. 2018;28(6):447-59.
Caverley SJ. Older mentally ill inmates: A descriptive study. Journal of Correctional Health Care. 2006;12(4):262-8.
Babazadeh T, Sarkhoshi R, Bahadori F, Moradi F, Shariat F. Prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress disorders in elderly people residing in Khoy, Iran (2014-2015). Journal of Research in Clinical Medicine. 2016;4(2):122-8.
Tiller JW. Depression and anxiety. The Medical Journal of Australia. 2013;199(6):S28-S31.
Majekodunmi OE, Obadeji A, Oluwole LO, Oyelami O. Depression and associated physical co-morbidities in elderly prison inmates. International Journal of mental health. 2017;46(4):269-83.
Hayes AJ, Burns A, Turnbull P, Shaw JJ. The health and social needs of older male prisoners. International journal of geriatric psychiatry. 2012;27(11):1155-62.
Opitz-Welke A, Konrad N, Welke J, Bennefeld-Kersten K, Gauger U, Voulgaris A. Suicide in older prisoners in Germany. Frontiers in psychiatry. 2019;10:154.
Liem M, Kunst M. Is there a recognizable post-incarceration syndrome among released “lifers”? International journal of law and psychiatry. 2013;36(3-4):333-7.
Greene CA, Ford JD, Wakefield DB, Barry LC. Posttraumatic stress mediates the relationship between childhood victimization and current mental health burden in newly incarcerated adults. Child abuse & neglect. 2014;38(10):1569-80.
The works published in this magazine are subject to the following terms:
1. The Publications Service of the University of Murcia (the publisher) preserves the copyright of the published works, and encourages and allows the reuse of the works under the license for use stated in point 2.
© Servicio de Publicaciones, Universidad de Murcia, 2011 (© Publications Service, University of Murcia, 2011)
2. The works are published in the electronic edition of the journal under Creative Commons Reconocimiento-NoComercial-SinObraDerivada 3.0 España(texto legal) “ a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 Spain license (legal text)”. They can be copied, used, broadcasted, transmitted and publicly displayed, provided that: i) the authorship and original source of their publication (journal, publisher and URL) are cited; (ii) are not used for commercial purposes; iii) the existence and specifications of this license is mentioned.
3. Conditions of self-archiving. Authors are allowed and encouraged to electronically disseminate the pre-print (pre-reviewed ) and / or post-print (reviewed and accepted for publication) versions of their works prior to publication, as it ensures a wider circulation and dissemination which may lead to a possible increase in its mention and a higher scope among the academic community. RoMEO color: green.
