Leuchter A F
J Forensic Sci. 1981 Jan;26(1):134-41.
There is mounting evidence that severe stress may produce profound psychophysiologic disturbances that can persist for many years. Imprisonment may be viewed as one such stress. The prison population has a high baseline incidence of mental illness, reflecting the societal groups from which most prisoners are drawn. The great stress of imprisonment may thus be a significant factor in the exacerbation of existing psychoses or in the precipitation of first psychotic episodes in certain prisoners. The responsibilities of the state in the prevention and treatment of mental illness among prisoners are not clear. United States Supreme Court rulings on sentencing procedures could be interpreted as requiring psychiatric evaluations of all prisoners. Furthermore, court rulings on the adequacy of medical care in prisons could be construed as requiring therapy for all prisoners suffering from major mental illnesses. Failure of the state to take reasonable steps to prevent and treat mental illness in the prison population may constitute cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.
越来越多的证据表明，严重的压力可能会产生深远的心理生理紊乱，这种紊乱可能会持续多年。监禁可被视为这样一种压力。监狱人口中精神疾病的基线发病率很高，这反映了大多数囚犯所来自的社会群体。因此，监禁带来的巨大压力可能是某些囚犯现有精神病加重或首次出现精神病发作的一个重要因素。国家在预防和治疗囚犯精神疾病方面的责任并不明确。美国最高法院关于量刑程序的裁决可被解释为要求对所有囚犯进行精神病学评估。此外，关于监狱医疗服务充足性的法院裁决可被理解为要求对所有患有严重精神疾病的囚犯进行治疗。国家未能采取合理措施预防和治疗监狱人口中的精神疾病，可能构成违反宪法第八修正案规定的残忍和不寻常的惩罚。
