There has been a significant number of adolescents admitted
to National Youth Service of Chile (SENAME) detention centers in recent years,
specifically since the promulgation of a law reform on juveniles' penal
responsibility for people aged 14 to 18 years (2006).
To determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in
adolescent male offenders aged between 14 and 17 years.
The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Kids
and Adolescents (MINI-KID) was applied to 489 adolescents admitted to detention
centers, to determine the presence of psychiatric disorders. (Hypo) maniac
episodes, eating disorders, pervasive developmental disorders, tic disorders,
and psychotic disorders were excluded. Furthermore, for purposes of analysis,
23 cases that used a substance of abuse or had signs of consumption the day of
the interview were excluded.
Eighty six percent of respondents had at least one
psychiatric disorder.
- The most common were substance use disorders (76%).
- Among these, marijuana dependence disorder had the higher frequency (51%).
- Disruptive behavior disorders had also a high prevalence (38%),
- followed by anxiety disorders (27%),
- attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (26%),
- and affective disorders (21%).
There is a high prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among
teenage offenders which could undermine rehabilitation.
By: Gaete J, Labbé N, Del Villar P, Allende C, Valenzuela E.
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