RESIDENT PRISON PSYCHIATRIST

• NCJ Number: 60324
• Journal: Revue de science criminelle et de droit penal compare Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY-MARCH 1979) Pages: 135-138
• Author(s): P MOUTIN
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 4 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Centre Francais de Criminologie
• Corporate Author: Editions Sirey
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: French
• Country: France
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT THE COLLOQUIUM OF CRIMINOLOGY ATHENS (GREECE), DECEMBER 2-5, 1976

Annotation

THE ROLE OF THE PSYCHIATRIST SPECIALIZED IN TREATMENT OF PRISON INMATES IS DESCRIBED.

Abstract

TWO PRINCIPAL FACTORS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRISON PSYCHIATRY AS A SPECIALITY: THE EXPANSION OF PSYCHIATRY TO TREATMENT AREAS SUCH AS NEUROSES AND PSYCHOPATHY WHICH ARE DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO PRISONERS AND THE SUCCESSFUL PRISON REFORM MOVEMENTS WHICH HAVE TRIED TO TRANSFORM PRISONS FROM INSTITUTIONS OF PUNISHMENT TO INSTITUTIONS OF TREATMENT. THE LEVELS OF EXPECTATIONS FOR PRISON PSYCHIATRY SOMETIMES CONFLICT. FOR INSTANCE, THE PRISONER NEEDS TO OPEN UP TO SOMEONE WHO CAN ASSIST IN THE RESOLUTION OF PSYCHOSOMATIC AILMENTS, INSOMNIA, AND DEPRESSION BY GETTING THE PRISONER A NEW PRISON JOB, INTERVENING IN OUTSIDE FAMILY PROBLEMS, AND HALTING TRANSFERS. HOWEVER, CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES HAVE VARIOUS USES FOR PSYCHIATRISTS BUT EMPHASIZE THE NEED FOR SECURITY, GENERALLY CONSIDERING TREATMENT OF SECONDARY IMPORTANCE, ALTHOUGH SOME INSTITUTIONS HAVE ACHIEVED A THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY. THE PSYCHIATRIST, BETWEEN THE TWO OTHER POSITIONS, MAY BE FORCED TO EMPLOY HIS SKILLS TO ENFORCE ORDER OR MAY FIND HIMSELF IN POSSESSION OF A DANGEROUS AMOUNT OF POWER. THE PSYCHIATRIST MUST LEARN TO UNDERSTAND THIS SYSTEM OF EXPECTATIONS AND TO RECOGNIZE HIS OWN MOTIVATIONS AS WELL AS THE NEEDS OF THE PRISONERS. PRISONERS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO DECIDE ON THEIR OWN TREATMENT. THE PSYCHIATRIST SHOULD NOT PLACE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON PRISONERS IN AN ALREADY VERY LIMITED ENVIRONMENT AND CANNOT INTERVENE WHENEVER THE INSTITUTION REQUESTS. PSYCHIATRISTS' GOALS SHOULD BE THE REINFORCEMENT OF SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT RATHER THAN PUNISHMENT, THE EXPANSION OF PRISONERS' INTERIOR LIBERTY BY REDUCING ALIENATION, AND THE REVERSAL OF PATHOGENIC PRISON EFFECTS. INVOLVEMENT OF PSYCHIATRISTS IN DEVELOPMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL POLICY, IN TRAINING OF PERSONNEL, AND IN PUBLIC RELATIONS WORK IS FAVORABLE. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)