Features of assessing mental and behavioral disorders in juvenile offenders at a temporary detention center

BACKGROUND: The increase in juvenile delinquency necessitates the development of comprehensive rehabilitation methods as a preventive measure in situations where there are no specialized professionals on the staff of temporary detention centers for juvenile offenders.

AIM: The work aimed to assess mental function disorders and activity limitations in juveniles held in a temporary detention center for juvenile offenders.

METHODS: The study included the analysis of 77 documentation units; a survey of 259 juveniles aged 14 and older, including offenders; and examinations by a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team, incorporating diagnostic and pedagogical interviews, physical examinations, standardized scales, and experimental–psychological testing. The duration was from 2019 to 2023. A composite rehabilitation profile of a juvenile offender was developed.

RESULTS: Mental and behavioral disorders accounted for 9.0% of the pathological morbidity profile and 37.9% of hospitalizations. Juveniles were under psychiatric (22.2%) or narcological (14.8%) supervision; 51.8% reported alcohol use, and 14.8% reported drug use. Reported complaints included panic attacks (33.3%), psychomotor agitation (18.5%), dyssomnias (22.2%), and suicide attempts (7.8%). Observed disorders included impairments in volitional and motivational functions (78.4%), temperament and personality (62.8%), sleep functions (59.8%), attention (57.0%), and emotions (54.1%); perception disorders (15.6%); and cognitive (29.8%) and intellectual (32.8%) impairments; rs = 0.713. Emotional issues included anxiety (46.6%), aggressiveness (54.6%), low stress tolerance (18.2%), emotional coldness (9.1%), or heightened empathy (27.3%); intelligence was at an average level in 51.9% and above average in 40.4%, with intellectual disability in 7.7%; rs = 0.713. School learning ability was limited (78.1%). Difficulties were noted in coping with stress (100.0%), decision-making (81.8%), problem-solving (72.7%), and maintaining daily routines (54.5%); rs = 0.801. Social disintegration was linked to limitations in organizing leisure (100%), health care (72.8%), and self-care (15.3%); rs = 0.722. Communication limitations included understanding spoken language (36.3%), expressive speech (27.1%), ability to conduct conversations (36.3%) and discussions (45.4%), and maintaining formal (27.7%), friendly (27.7%), and family (81.8%) relationships; rs = 0.737.

CONCLUSION: Juvenile offenders are typically characterized by moderate impairments of mental functions, which lead to impairments in adaptation and social integration of adolescents.