SCREENING PRISON-INMATES FOR MENTAL DISORDER - AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MENTAL DISORDER AND PRISON ADJUSTMENT

The rapidly expanding population of prison inmates has severely challe nged the prison system's ability to effectively screen incoming inmate s for mental disorders and mental health service needs. This study des cribes a comprehensive mental health screening of inmates at a maximum security prison, using a modified version of the Referral Decision Sc ale (RDS), a screening measure developed from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Modified items and adjusted cut-off scores were used in ord er to reduce the rate of false positives. Survey results indicate that this modified version of the RDS may be an effective screening measur e for correctional settings. Subjects who were positive on the RDS wer e compared to negative subjects on a variety of offense and prison adj ustment variables. Findings indicate that while subjects who were posi tive on the RDS experienced some initial adjustment problems within th e prison, they were generally not found to be involved in an elevated rate of prison violence and were not more often remanded to disciplina ry units than those subjects who were negative on the RDS.