Study of relationship between prevalence of mental disorders and criminal profile of a sample of the prison population of São Paulo

Abstract

Epidemiological studies on prison populations have demonstrated close correlation between mental disorders and criminal behavior. The type of crime is, in this context, as an important factor in the evaluation of psychiatric and criminal profile of prisoners. Some studies claim that the greater the severity of mental disorder, the more violent criminal behavior tends to be. This project aims to analyze the prevalence of mental disorder in accordance with the criminal profile of a sample of inmates in the state of São Paulo. This theme seems to be appropriate once it may provide empirical basis for the implementation of public policies aiming to the mental health treatment and promotion, risk assessment of criminal recidivism and formulating strategies for resocialization of prisoners and to fight crime. The method to be used is the database analysis gathered through a study of cross-section, with a sample of 1837 prisoners in custody at the Department of Penitentiary Administration of the State of São Paulo, in closed regime, in Prisons and Remand centers. The instruments used in data collection were Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) version 2.1, Victimization questionnaire - NEV and questionnaire defense mechanisms (Defence Style Questionnaire). The prisoners will be classified according to type of crime committed violent crimes and nonviolent. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0. It will be used for analyzing complex samples of the prevalence of mental disorders.Also will be in use, a descriptive analysis of the groups by the chi-square, t-student test and analysis of variance according to the level of measurement of the variable examined. (AU)