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Abstract #150556

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Anna M. Scheyett, PhD¹, Sharon Parker, MSW, MS¹, David A. Wohl, MD², Carol Golin, MD³, Becky White, MD², Danielle F. Haley, MPH², and Carrie Pettus Davis, MSW¹. (1) School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 301 Pittsboro St., CB #3550, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, 919-962-4372, amscheye@email.unc.edu, (2) Infectious Disease, University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, Bioinformatics Building, 130 Mason Farm Road CB#7030, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, (3) Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health, Campus Box 7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599

Background: Little is known about HIV+ inmates with mental illnesses (MI) and their post-release needs. The aims of this study were to determine: 1) proportion of MI in a HIV+ prison population; 2) differences between MI and non-MI HIV+ inmates; 3) if significant association exist between MI and community needs or coping self-efficacy.

Methods: Quantitative interviews of 101 soon-to-be-released HIV+ inmates and qualitative interviews with a 24 inmate subset were completed. MI was determined using CES-D. Bivariate analyses examined differences between MI and non-MI inmates. Logistic regression examined if MI was associated with having more pre-incarceration needs, more post-release needs, and lower coping self-efficacy. Qualitative analyses explored differences in conceptualization and plans for post-release between MI and non-MI inmates.

Results: Clinically significant CES-D scores were found for 51% of the sample, with half of these having no chart documentation of MI. MI was significantly associated with going without healthcare to meet basic needs and needing housing pre-incarceration. MI was significantly associated with post-release need for housing, transportation, medication adherence assistance, emergency medical care, and lowered coping self-efficacy. Qualitative interviews revealed MI inmates had less clearly conceptualized release plans and were more likely to express concerns about post-release coping and survival.

Conclusions: Findings indicate >50% of HIV+ inmates have MI, with half of these unidentified. MI inmates have more unmet needs pre-incarceration, more needs upon release, and lower ability to cope with these challenges. Release planning should include identifying HIV+ MI inmates and addressing their elevated community needs and lowered self-efficacy.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the prevalence of mental illness in HIV+ prison population.
• Identify the elevated risks for HIV+ inmates with untreated mental illness.
• Define the unique post-release needs and challenges of HIV+ inmates with mental illness.

Keywords: Criminal Justice, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Slides (pdf) or Handout
• Multimedia recording