Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
BMJ Open. 2013 Mar 9;3(3):e002358. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2012-002358.
To investigate changes in mental health and other needs, as well as clinical and diagnostic 'caseness', in a sample of adolescents over a 6-month period following entry into a Young Offenders Institution in the UK.
Prospective cohort study.
One Young Offenders Institution between November 2006 and August 2009.
219 male adolescents aged 15-18 years (M=16.56; SD=0.6) were assessed at baseline (median=4; range 0-26 days following reception into custody) on the Salford Needs Assessment Schedule for Adolescents (SNASA) and Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS). Participants were then reassessed at 3-month and 6-month postbaseline to document any change in mental health.
Of the initial baseline sample, 132 were still in the study at 3-month postbaseline and 63 were still available for assessment at 6 months. There were no differences between those who were not available for assessment at the three key stages in terms of demographic and criminological data. Over time there was a general improvement in mental health. While the proportion of participants with a mental health need (SNASA) did not change over time, symptom severity as measured by the SNASA did reduce significantly. When we assessed diagnostic 'caseness' using the K-SADS, three young people showed significant mental health deterioration.
In line with previous studies, we found that symptoms in prison generally improved over time. Prison may provide an opportunity for young people previously leading chaotic lifestyles to settle into a stable routine and engage with services; however, it is unclear if these would be maintained either within the prison or on release into the community.
调查英国一所青少年罪犯教养所中进入教养所 6 个月后，青少年心理健康及其他需求的变化，以及临床和诊断“病例”情况。
前瞻性队列研究。
2006 年 11 月至 2009 年 8 月期间的一家青少年罪犯教养所。
219 名 15-18 岁的男性青少年（M=16.56；SD=0.6）在基线（中位数=4；范围 0-26 天内入所）时接受了青少年萨福德需求评估表（SNASA）和儿童情绪障碍和精神分裂症评定量表（K-SADS）的评估。然后，参与者在基线后 3 个月和 6 个月时再次接受评估，以记录心理健康的任何变化。
在最初的基线样本中，有 132 名参与者在 3 个月的基线后仍在研究中，有 63 名参与者在 6 个月时仍可接受评估。在无法在三个关键阶段接受评估的参与者在人口统计学和犯罪学数据方面没有差异。随着时间的推移，心理健康状况普遍有所改善。虽然有心理健康需求的参与者比例（SNASA）没有随时间变化，但通过 SNASA 测量的症状严重程度显著降低。当我们使用 K-SADS 评估诊断“病例”时，有 3 名年轻人的心理健康明显恶化。
与之前的研究一致，我们发现监狱中的症状随着时间的推移普遍改善。监狱可能为以前过着混乱生活方式的年轻人提供一个安定下来并参与服务的机会；然而，尚不清楚这些是否会在监狱内或释放到社区中得到维持。
