Observations on the Prison Psychoses

Abstract

From time to time in convict prisons examples are seen of certain morbid mental states which are described as distinct disease forms under the name of “prison psychoses.” These states may be defined as special types of mental reactions developing upon conflicts which arise as the result of imprisonment, and possibly from the shock attending the criminal act, trial and conviction. They have been the subject of much inquiry, but, on account of the variation in the material which was available and in the conditions under which the studies were pursued, some confusion of thought appears to exist as to what may or may not be regarded as belonging to this class of disorder, and whether, in fact, the classification is not redundant. The sole justification for the use of the term “true prison psychosis” lies in the ability to establish the disorder as a separate entity, lest the name should be applied to conditions which are adequately described under other titles, as has been the case with shell-shock and “barbed-wire” disease.