Exposure to physical and sexual violence prior to imprisonment predicts mental health and substance use treatments in prison populations

• The focuses were the physical and sexual victimization prior to imprisonment.
• High prevalence of mental health treatments during imprisonment.
• Statistically significant differences were found between the two motives.
• A sample 2484 male and 225 female prisoners in Spain was studied.

The present study aimed to establish rates of exposure to physical or sexual violence (PSV) prior to imprisonment for prisoners in Spain and to explore whether people exposed to PSV access mental health treatment during imprisonment. In a sample of 2484 male and 225 female prisoners, socio-demographic variables, exposure to PSV prior to imprisonment and mental health treatments during imprisonment were assessed. Frequencies were calculated as per cent values with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The Risk Ratio (RR) of PSV and other socio-demographic variables to associate with mental health treatment during imprisonment was established. History of PSV was present in 35.2% (95% CI: 33.3–37.0) of the male and 40.0% (95% CI: 33.9–46.8) of the female prisoners. 70.7% (95% CI: 67.8–73.9) of the male and 76.9% (95% CI: 67.7–86.0) of the female prisoners with prior exposure to PSV were in mental health treatment during imprisonment. PSV was a significant predictor of mental health treatment during imprisonment in male (RR: 2.79; 95% CI 2.44–2.92) and female (RR: 1.94; 95% CI 1.76–2.23) prisoners. Most people with exposure to PSV prior to imprisonment access mental health treatment during imprisonment. Treatments may have to focus more on traumatic experiences.