Prevalence of traumatic brain injury and mental health problems among individuals within the criminal justice system.

Audrey Mckinlay,Michelle Albicini

doi:10.2217/cnc-2016-0011

Audrey Mckinlay, Michelle Albicini

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2217/cnc-2016-0011

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Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with increased aggression and antisocial behavior. This review examined existing literature regarding TBI prevalence and associated adverse mental health among individuals within the criminal justice system. TBI prevalence varied between 12 and 82% for youths, and 23 and 87% for adults. TBI was associated with a range of negative outcomes, particularly substance abuse. However, confounding factors, including differing control groups, lack of information for timing and severity of TBI, and use of self-report measures for TBI history made it difficult to determine whether TBI was a risk factor. Future research should eliminate or counter for these confounds, to provide accurate prevalence rates of TBI and the direction of association between TBI and offending behaviors.

Highlights

Background recruited from northernFinland was prospec-A long history associating traumatic brain tively followed up until the age of 31 years injury (TBI) with antisocial behavior exists. (n = 5589 males and n = 5345 females) [4].it is not surprising that there is an In exploring associated outcomes, it was increasing interest in defining the impact of found that after controlling for confound-traumatic brain injury (TBI) on the criminal justice system in terms ing factors, TBI during childhood or adolesof defining potential causal factors for the cence was significantly related to later mental likelihood of initial offending, challenging health disorders, with co-existing criminal behavior during incarceration and recidi- behaviors evident in male cohort members vism
This review examined existing literature regarding TBI prevalence and associated adverse mental health among individuals within the criminal justice system
Given that these characteristics are found among individuals who are charged with an offence, it is not surprising that the association between TBI and offending behaviors has become increasingly important to consider, both in terms of initial offending pathways and rehabilitation of such populations, those within the criminal justice system

Summary

Introduction

A long history associating traumatic brain tively followed up until the age of 31 years injury (TBI) with antisocial behavior exists. TBI on the criminal justice system in terms ing factors, TBI during childhood or adolesof defining potential causal factors for the cence was significantly related to later mental likelihood of initial offending, challenging health disorders, with co-existing criminal behavior during incarceration and recidi- behaviors evident in male cohort members vism. Adults on death row reported a correla- were used to examine outcomes of individution between conviction and a history of als between the age of 0 and 21 years with a TBI, finding that 100% of adults and 57% medically verified occurrence of TBI, which of children had evidence of TBI in their required hospitalization [5].

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