Self‐reported Mental Health Issues Among Arrestees in the Paris,France Area |
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| Authors: | Camille Vidal MD Aude Lepresle MD Patrick Chariot MD |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Forensic Medicine, H?pital Jean‐Verdier (AP‐HP), 93140 Bondy, France;2. Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire sur les Enjeux Sociaux (IRIS), UMR 8156‐997, UFR SMBH, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris 13, Paris, France;3. Additional information and reprint requests:;4. Patrick Chariot, M.D.;5. Department of Forensic Medicine;6. H?pital Jean‐Verdier;7. 93140 Bondy;8. France;9. E‐mail: |
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| Abstract: | We studied (May–September 2014) all arrestees who reported mental health issues during the medical examination performed by a forensic physician for the assessment of fitness for detention. Among 4814 arrestees, 420 (9%) reported a current mental health issue. The suspected crimes among arrestees reporting a current mental health issue were more often related to violent behaviors (physical assault, 23% vs. 16%, p < 0.001, sexual assault, 3% vs. 1%, p = 0.01) and less often drug offenses (18% vs. 29%, p < 0.001). Among arrestees reporting mental health issues, 80% reported psychiatric or psychological care, of whom 33% reported previous mental health care. Decisions of unfitness for detention were more frequent among arrestees reporting mental health issues than in other detainees (3% vs. 1%, p < 0.001). The high proportion of patients with interrupted mental health care among those reporting mental disorders suggests that the medical examination during custody could be a significant opportunity to restore psychiatric care. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science police custody arrestee fitness for detention psychiatric care mental disorder |
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