ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of head injury (HI) and its association with offending behaviour, psychological and neurobehavioral functioning, and cognitive performance in female prisoners.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, female prisoners in the UK reporting a HI with a loss of consciousness (LOC) over ten minutes (n = 10) were compared with a group without a HI with LOC over ten minutes (n = 41) across a range of measures; including scores on standardized clinical questionnaires and performance-based cognitive assessments. Semi-structured clinical interviews assessed HI and forensic history, with forensic history triangulated against the prison database.

Results: Domestic abuse was the most frequently reported cause of HI. The HI with LOC group had been to prison a greater number of times and had committed a greater number violent offences. No significant difference was found on self-reported psychological and neurobehavioral measures, or between the groups’ cognitive functioning on neuropsychological tests.

Conclusions: Psychosocial factors such as trauma may contribute to higher rates of violent offending and imprisonment in those with a HI with LOC. Domestic abuse is an important factor in HI amongst female prisoners. Forensic screening and interventions need to be designed, adapted and evaluated with consideration of trauma and HI.

摘要

目的：调查女性囚犯头部外伤（HI）的特征及其与犯罪行为、心理和神经行为功能以及认知能力的关系。

方法：使用横断面设计，将英国报告有意识丧失 (LOC) 超过 10 分钟 (n = 10) 的女性囚犯与没有意识丧失 (LOC) 超过 10 分钟的 HI 组（n = 41）进行比较) 跨越一系列措施；包括标准化临床问卷的分数和基于表现的认知评估。半结构化临床访谈评估了 HI 和法医史，并根据监狱数据库对法医史进行了三角测量。

结果：家庭虐待是最常报告的 HI 原因。HI with LOC 组曾多次入狱，并犯下更多暴力罪行。在自我报告的心理和神经行为测量方面，或在神经心理学测试中各组的认知功能之间没有发现显着差异。

结论：创伤等社会心理因素可能导致 HI 和 LOC 的暴力犯罪和监禁发生率更高。家庭虐待是女性囚犯 HI 的一个重要因素。法医筛查和干预措施的设计、调整和评估需要考虑到创伤和 HI。