Prevalence of mental disorders in closed educational centers in France

Guillaume Bronsard; Pierre-Antoine Leroux; Issaga Diallo; Jules Eleuterio; Alban Le Bihan; Laurent Boyer; Nathalie Lavenne-Collot

doi:10.1016/j.encep.2023.11.026

Prevalence of mental disorders in closed educational centers in France

Encephale. 2024 Feb 16:S0013-7006(24)00016-2. doi: 10.1016/j.encep.2023.11.026. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Guillaume Bronsard¹, Pierre-Antoine Leroux², Issaga Diallo³, Jules Eleuterio², Alban Le Bihan², Laurent Boyer⁴, Nathalie Lavenne-Collot⁵

Affiliations

¹ Childhood and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Bohars Hospital, Brest University Hospital, Brest, France; EA7479 SPURBO, University of Western Brittany, Brest, France; EA3279 CEReSS, University of Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France.
² Childhood and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Bohars Hospital, Brest University Hospital, Brest, France; EA7479 SPURBO, University of Western Brittany, Brest, France.
³ EA3279 CEReSS, University of Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France.
⁴ EA3279 CEReSS, University of Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France; Medical Information Department, Public Assistance-Marseille University Hospital, Marseille, France.
⁵ Childhood and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Bohars Hospital, Brest University Hospital, Brest, France; EA7479 SPURBO, University of Western Brittany, Brest, France; Inserm U1101, LATIM, Brest, France. Electronic address: nathalie.lavenne-collot@chu-brest.fr.

PMID: 38368185
DOI: 10.1016/j.encep.2023.11.026

Abstract

Introduction: Closed educational centres (CEC) receive young offenders who most often have a conduct disorder (CD). Mental disorders other than conduct disorder are a negative factor in the effect of educational actions. Moreover, adverse life experiences are frequent vulnerability factors in this population. This article aims to document the prevalence and links between psychiatric disorders, exposure to trauma, and the psycho-behavioural characteristics of adolescents placed in CEC.

Method: We conducted a multicentre epidemiological study on a sample of 101 adolescents placed in nine closed educational centres in France. Psychiatric disorders were measured by the MINI-KID 2 and Conners Rating Scale questionnaires. Several questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic data and the psychological profile of each adolescent.

Results: Among the adolescents, 90.2% had at least one mental disorder with a predominance of conduct disorder (80%). Comorbidity was also frequently found: among the subjects with conduct disorder, 37% had at least one other psychiatric disorder. Interestingly, the intensity of conduct disorder and the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) score were significantly correlated. Furthermore, two subgroups were identified: adolescents with isolated conduct disorder (44.6%) and adolescents with other psychiatric disorders (45.7%) with or without conduct disorder. The latter subgroup showed higher vulnerability and poorer outcomes in terms of attachment patterns, feelings of abandonment, hostility and impulsivity.

Conclusion: This study is the first French epidemiological study of mental disorders in juvenile offenders. It suggests that the detection of psychiatric disorders in young people in CEC is an important prerequisite for the implementation of targeted interventions according to different profiles. Furthermore, collaboration between the medical-psychological and judicial fields, in the form of an operational partnership, is necessary to guarantee better support for these young people.

Keywords: Conduct disorder; Jeune délinquant; Justice juvénile; Juvenile justice; Prevalence; Prévalence; Psychiatric disorder; Trouble des conduites; Trouble psychiatrique; Young offender.