Perfil adictivo, delictivo y psicopatológico de una muestra de mujeres en prisión / Addictive, criminal and psychopathological profile of a sample of women in prison

En este estudio se analiza el perfil adictivo, delictivo y psicopatológico de una muestra de 59 mujeres encarceladas en el Centro Penitenciario (C.P.) de Villabona (Asturias). Para ello se administraron los instrumentos EuropASI, SCL-90-R y una entrevista semiestructurada. Los resultados mostraron que se trata de una mujer joven, soltera y con carga familiar que cumple una condena media de 5 años de encarcelamiento. Del total de la muestra, el 64.4% presentaron criterios para un trastorno por abuso de sustancias. Se halló una relación estadísticamente significativa entre las variables consumo-no consumo y tipo de delito, siendo las mujeres consumidoras las que más delitos contra la propiedad y contra el orden socioeconómico habían cometido. Respecto a la psicopatología, el 44.06% de la muestra cumplía los requisitos de caso clínico de acuerdo a los criterios de Derogatis (1994). Los resultados del SCL-90-R mostraron que los trastornos psicológicos predominantes eran, en este orden, la depresión, la somatización, el trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo y la ideación paranoide. Además, en el grupo de mujeres consumidoras, el 47.4% presentaba patología dual. Se puso en evidencia la relación estadísticamente significativa entre caso clínico y consumo de sustancias. Por último, se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos consumo-no consumo de drogas en el perfil de gravedad del EuropASI. Fueron el área médica, familiar y psiquiátrica del grupo consumo las que mayores puntuaciones presentaron (AU)

This study examines the addictive, criminal and psychopathological profile of a sample of 59 women incarcerated in the Villabona prisonin Asturias (a region in northern Spain). The instruments administered were the EuropASI, the SCL-90-R and a semi-structured interview. Results showed that the profile is a young, single women with family dependents serving an average of 5 years’ imprisonment. Of the total sample, 64.4% met criteria for a substance abuse disorder. We found a statistically significant relationship between the variables use-nonuse and type of crime: women who used substances had committed the most crimes against property and against the socioeconomic order. As regards psychopathology, 44.06% of the sample fulfilled the requirements for clinical case according to Derogatis’ (1994) criteria. The results of theSCL-90-R showed that the predominant psychological disorders were, in the following order, depression, somatization, obsessive-compulsive disorder and paranoid ideation. Moreover, in the group of female users, 47.4% had dual pathology. Our results revealed a statistically significant relationship between clinical case and substance use. Finally, statistically significant differences were found between the user and nonuser groups in the EuropASI severity profile. Highest scores were found for the medical, psychiatric and family areas in the user group (AU)

A 25-year follow-up of patients admitted to methadone treatment for the first time: mortality and gender differences.

INTRODUCTION: We conducted a follow-up study to evaluate the outcome of a heroin-dependent population 25 years after their first enrollment in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). We assessed mortality in the sample plus actual drug use, treatment, and medical factors associated with drug dependence, focusing on possible gender differences. METHODS: Prospective follow-up study of 214 heroin-dependent patients consecutively admitted for MMT between 1980 and 1984 in the Asturias Public Health Service. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. An ad-hoc protocol on drug misuse and treatment, drug-related morbidity and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores were assessed in the survivors' sample. RESULTS: Information was received on 159 subjects, 106 of whom were deceased. Men accounted for 76.2% of the study cohort. Over the 25-year follow-up period, the SMR was 22.51 (95% CI=22.37-22.64). In the survivors sample, 39.6% were still enrolled in MMT; human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was diagnosed in 47.2% and hepatitis B/C in 81.1%; current heroin use was reported by 22.6%. There were no gender differences in mortality or HIV and hepatitis B/C status. None of the female survivors were using heroin at the 25-year follow-up compared with 31.1% of males. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the high mortality of heroin addicts even after enrollment in MMT. Severity of the addiction in terms of mortality was similar in both genders. Women who survived the 25-year follow-up were more likely to have stopped using heroin than men.