Psychopathology of adolescent detained versus psychiatric inpatient females

Several studies have shown high rates of psychopathology among female adolescents in detention. Although rates of mental health problems have been called alarming, it is unknown whether mental health needs in females in juvenile justice differ substantially from those of females in mental health care. Therefore, this study compared adolescent females in detention with inpatient adolescent females. For this purpose, a sample of 256 detained females (mean age 15.4 ± 1.3) was compared to 45 psychiatric inpatient females (mean age 15.8 ± 1.4). Socio-demographic characteristics, mental health history and psychiatric problems were investigated using file-information and self-report questionnaires. Compared to detained females, inpatients more often showed internalizing problems and dissociation, whereas externalizing problems prevailed in girls in detention centers. Females in detention more often came from an ethnic minority group, while females in mental healthcare more often received mental healthcare previously and had parents with higher employment. This study confirms that mental health needs of girls in mental healthcare and in detention are high. However, non-mental health related factors were different as well – i.e. socio-economic factors – and are likely to influence the involvement with either service sector.