The Use of Patient Education in a Prison Mental Health Treatment Program.

Abstract As increasing numbers of mentally disabled individuals move into the criminal justice system, a wider array of mental health services are being offered. Education for inmates about the nature of their menial disorder, its causes, and appropriate treatment may be a useful adjunct to traditional services. In this study, schizophrenic inmates were given a four hour multimedia workshop to help them understand schizophrenia and its treatment. Comparison of pretest and posttest showed a highly significant increase in knowledge about symptoms of schizophrenia, its causes, and treatment. Implications of these findings are discussed.