INCARCERATED DRUG-ADDICTS AND DELINQUENTS - AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL APPROACH

The authors present the results of a transversal and comprehensive sur vey, conducted at the Fleury-Merogis prison in 1988, among incarcerate d drug-addicts versus incarcerated non drug-addicts. Subjects are exam ined through a questionnaire and psychometric tools (the Mini-Mult, th e CPRS, the MADRS, the Psychomotor Retardation Scale). A sub-sample is examined again 8 weeks afterwards on psychopathological variables. Be haviour disorders are numerous and found to have begun before drug-add iction. Family dysfunctions are considerable. The symptomatology of in carcerated drug-addicts is mostly induced by the substances used befor e incarceration, among which benzodiazepines, followed by alcohol, but not heroin or cocaine, are to be found primarily.