[Psychiatric treatment of prisoners in general psychiatric wards exemplified by North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Pfalz].

OBJECTIVE

The study was intended to provide information on the frequency and general condition of inpatient and outpatient treatment of mentally disturbed prisoners in general psychiatry in Germany.

METHODS

Directors of psychiatric institutions and chief physicians of prisons in Nordrhein-Westfalen and Rheinland-Pfalz were interviewed via a standardized questionnaire.

RESULTS

The use of inpatient psychiatric treatment was approximately 0.1 to 2.3% in 1997 with reference to the total admissions in 1997.

CONCLUSION

The rare use of psychiatric beds in general psychiatry may reflect obstacles concerning the status of prisoners and reservations regarding difficult patients.