THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN INCARCERATION AND MENTAL DISORDERS: A DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS

OBJECTIVE: Analyze the mental health of incarcerated people and how this issue has been addressed among government entities to improve the well-being of these individuals, considering prevalent disorders and socioeconomic factors. METHODS: Research in Pubmed scientific database with the application of the descriptors "mental disorders" and "incarceration”. RESULTS: A great predominance of certain mental disorders among the incarcerated population was observed within the articles analyzed. However, even with some government measures, there’s been identified a gap in public politics to improve and individualize health care. CONCLUSION: The literature analyzed focused the study of the incarcerated population attached to specific diseases and drug abuse, which mostly reinforces stigmas already strongly vinculated to this social group. Nevertheless, it also shown that they need more attention, humanized treatments, security of rights and the government protection over any kind of discrimination. In conclusion, it is yet to determine if the high prevalence of mental disorders in prison can be configured as a precedent or a consequence of incarceration.