Abstract
The present study sought to better understand the influence of personality disorders and impulsivity on women’s ability to
adapt to incarceration. We analyzed the influence of personality disorders as screened with the Structured Clinical Interview
for Personality Disorders, and impulsivity as assessed with the Barratt Impulsivity Scale on depression and anxiety, sleeping
problems, and feeling afraid of being attacked in prison among a large sample of women incarcerated in a Virginia prison.
Results from regression models indicated that schizotypal, borderline, avoidant and dependent personality disorders and cognitive
impulsivity were significant predictors of symptoms of anxiety and depression net of demographic covariates. Women possessing
a diagnosis of paranoid personality disorder were at increased odds of having difficulty sleeping in prison and borderline,
dependent, and paranoid personality disorder were at increased odds of experiencing fear in prison. Women who had been in
prison before were significantly less likely to experience these problems. Implications of study findings for policies and
practices involving women offenders are discussed.
adapt to incarceration. We analyzed the influence of personality disorders as screened with the Structured Clinical Interview
for Personality Disorders, and impulsivity as assessed with the Barratt Impulsivity Scale on depression and anxiety, sleeping
problems, and feeling afraid of being attacked in prison among a large sample of women incarcerated in a Virginia prison.
Results from regression models indicated that schizotypal, borderline, avoidant and dependent personality disorders and cognitive
impulsivity were significant predictors of symptoms of anxiety and depression net of demographic covariates. Women possessing
a diagnosis of paranoid personality disorder were at increased odds of having difficulty sleeping in prison and borderline,
dependent, and paranoid personality disorder were at increased odds of experiencing fear in prison. Women who had been in
prison before were significantly less likely to experience these problems. Implications of study findings for policies and
practices involving women offenders are discussed.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s11126-012-9215-5
- Authors
- Senik T. Mahmood, Public Policy Studies, Saint Louis University, Tegeler Hall, Rm 300 W, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Stephen J. Tripodi, College of Social Work, Florida State University, Building C, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2570, USA
- Michael G. Vaughn, School of Social Work, Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Department of Public Policy Studies, Saint Louis University, Tegeler Hall, 3550 Lindell Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA
- Kimberly A. Bender, University of Denver, Craig Hall, Room 336, Denver, CO, USA
- Rachel D. Schwartz, Instruction-Public Health, Saint Louis University, Salus Center, Rm 464, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Journal Psychiatric Quarterly
- Online ISSN 1573-6709
- Print ISSN 0033-2720