DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY DISORDER AMONG OLDER MALE INMATES AT A FEDERALCORRECTIONAL FACILITY

The conditions of incarceration and the sociodemograghic and health ch aracteristics of 95 alder male inmates of a federal correctional facil ity were studied to determine the relationship of such variables to ra tes of psychiatric disorder among older male inmates. A total of 51 in mates (53.7 percent) met one-month criteria for psychiatric disorder, a much higher rate than among a community sample of men in the same ge ographic area. Compared with inmates without such disorders, inmates w ith disorders were likely to be younger, to have a history of psychiat ric disorder and substance abuse, to have poorer physical health, to h ave impaired social support, and to be serving a determinate sentence with no possibility of parole. Few were receiving treatment while inca rcerated.