Necesidades de salud mental en adolescentes en conflicto con la ley penal: Un estudio descriptivo en una muestra de Argentina

Juveniles in the criminal justice system have higher rates of mental health needs than those in the general population. The screening of these needs in admission to the legal devices allows identifying those cases that require specific and immediate intervention. The present study explores the prevalence and comorbidity of mental health needs in 55 adolescents admitted to a closed detention center of the juvenile justice system through a translated version for MAYSI-2 for Argentina (Grisso, Barnum, Orpianessi & Arbach, 2018). Approximately 90% of the adolescents presented scores that indicated the probable presence of at least one type of mental health need. A similar proportion reports having experienced traumatic experiences along their lives. The most prevalent clinical conditions were somatization, thought disturbance, and depressive and anxious symptoms. The alcohol and drug abuse subscale recorded the highest proportion of adolescents with scores above the maximum cut-off point. Almost all of the cases had scores that indicated the presence of two or more comorbid conditions. MAYSI-2 could be a promissory tool in the implementation of screening strategies in resource-limited settings. Practical and research implications of these findings are discussed.