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We investigated the mental health of 232 consecutive receptions of juvenile boys aged 15-17 years in youth detention centers of two Chinese provinces and compared with juveniles in community settings. Interviews were conducted by psychiatrists using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children to diagnose DSM-IV psychiatric disorders. Of the 232 boys in detention, 188 (81.0%) met criteria for any psychiatric disorder, with 186 (80.2%) having a disruptive behavior disorder and 52 (22.4%) having a substance use disorder (SUD). High levels of comorbidity were observed with 38.8% being diagnosed with at least two disorders. The high absolute and relative risks of psychiatric disorders and SUDs suggest that the identification and treatment of such disorders in juvenile detention is a priority for service development. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Original publication

DOI

10.1080/14789949.2012.727452

Type

Journal article

Journal

Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology

Publication Date

01/10/2012

Volume

23

Pages

664 - 675