The effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of the Prison Population. A Systematic Review.

Abstract

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic, declared on March 11, 2020, by the World Health Organization, caused a global health crisis with effects worldwide. Incarcerated population, vulnerable to mental health problems by pre-existing comorbidities, also faced pandemic’ stressors. Objective: To analyse the evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health disorders in the prison context compared to pre-pandemic and possible interventions for mental health preservation and improvement strategies for incarcerated persons. Methods: The search was done in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar, following PRISMA guidelines. We extracted data regarding the study design, participant demographics, mental health disorders assessed, and outcomes. For comparison with pre-pandemic a previous review was used as a reference. We assessed risk of bias with the Cochrane ROBINS-E tool and with the Joanna Briggs Institute tools for cross sectional and qualitative studies. Risk of bias analysis was presented with traffic light plots. Results: We included observational studies and qualitative studies, as well as reviews, focused on the mental health of adult prison populations from 2020 to 2023. Fourteen studies were reviewed, and showed that inmates were more depressed, anxious, self-harmful, and suicidal after the pandemic. Specific subgroups: young male inmates (18-25 years), transgender and non-binary inmates, old adults, and those with pre-existing conditions, were the most ones affected by mental health problems. Interventions: telemedicine and virtual support groups effectively addressed mental health disorders in this context. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic increased the mental health problems in prison population.

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic, declared on March 11, 2020, by the World Health Organization, caused a global health crisis with effects worldwide. Incarcerated population, vulnerable to mental health problems by pre-existing comorbidities, also faced pandemic’ stressors. Objective: To analyse the evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health disorders in the prison context compared to pre-pandemic and possible interventions for mental health preservation and improvement strategies for incarcerated persons. Methods: The search was done in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar, following PRISMA guidelines. We extracted data regarding the study design, participant demographics, mental health disorders assessed, and outcomes. For comparison with pre-pandemic a previous review was used as a reference. We assessed risk of bias with the Cochrane ROBINS-E tool and with the Joanna Briggs Institute tools for cross sectional and qualitative studies. Risk of bias analysis was presented with traffic light plots. Results: We included observational studies and qualitative studies, as well as reviews, focused on the mental health of adult prison populations from 2020 to 2023. Fourteen studies were reviewed, and showed that inmates were more depressed, anxious, self-harmful, and suicidal after the pandemic. Specific subgroups: young male inmates (18-25 years), transgender and non-binary inmates, old adults, and those with pre-existing conditions, were the most ones affected by mental health problems. Interventions: telemedicine and virtual support groups effectively addressed mental health disorders in this context. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic increased the mental health problems in prison population.

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic, declared on March 11, 2020, by the World Health Organization, caused a global health crisis with effects worldwide. Incarcerated population, vulnerable to mental health problems by pre-existing comorbidities, also faced pandemic’ stressors. Objective: To analyse the evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health disorders in the prison context compared to pre-pandemic and possible interventions for mental health preservation and improvement strategies for incarcerated persons. Methods: The search was done in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar, following PRISMA guidelines. We extracted data regarding the study design, participant demographics, mental health disorders assessed, and outcomes. For comparison with pre-pandemic a previous review was used as a reference. We assessed risk of bias with the Cochrane ROBINS-E tool and with the Joanna Briggs Institute tools for cross sectional and qualitative studies. Risk of bias analysis was presented with traffic light plots. Results: We included observational studies and qualitative studies, as well as reviews, focused on the mental health of adult prison populations from 2020 to 2023. Fourteen studies were reviewed, and showed that inmates were more depressed, anxious, self-harmful, and suicidal after the pandemic. Specific subgroups: young male inmates (18-25 years), transgender and non-binary inmates, old adults, and those with pre-existing conditions, were the most ones affected by mental health problems. Interventions: telemedicine and virtual support groups effectively addressed mental health disorders in this context. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic increased the mental health problems in prison population.