LONG-TERM IMPRISONMENT LEADS TO COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

The effects of long-term imprisonment on cognitive functions are inves tigated in a longitudinal study. Twenty-four serious offenders in an A ustrian penitentiary underwent concentration and memory performance me asurements via a questionnaire presented to them under controlled cond itions in two sessions at a 42-month interval. The difference in the p arameters indicated cognitive impairment after this period that was hi ghly significant (P < 0.01); this can be interpreted as a direct conse quence of imprisonment.