Psychiatric Disorders in Aging Prisoners

Abstract Objective:The purpose of this study is to describe and compare older individuals (over the age of 55) presently incarcerated in the Tennessee State Prison System who have diagnosed with mental illnesses with those older prisoners without diagnoses of mental illnesses. Method (Design, Setting, Participants):This study examined 671 Tennessee State Prison inmates 55 years of age and older. These prisoners were divided into two groups: those having a diagnosis of mental illness and those without such a diagnosis. Factors such as incidence of reincarceration, length of sentencing, mental illnesses and offenses committed were compared. Results (Interventions, Measurements):This study showed many characteristics of the mentally ill geriatric offender. Significance was found between gender and psychiatric illness, as well as between gender and the illnesses of depression and dementia. Women with a depressive disorder were more likely to have committed murder, and men with dementia were more like to have committed a sex crime. Conclusions:These findings indicate that there are a number of older individuals currently incarcerated in Tennessee prisons. Sixteen percent of these individuals had a diagnosis of a mental illness. This study's findings raise critical issues relative to the older incarcerated mentally ill population, which require additional research.