Mental health problems in juvenile justice populations

Abstract

The limited literature on mental health problems in juvenile justice population has reported that most youth in juvenile justice hold psychiatric pathology. Although conduct disorder and substance abuse are the most prevalent conditions in this population, many other diagnoses can be found at alarmingly high rates; research on other diagnoses (eg, autism, psychosis) is limited. This finding underscores the necessity of implementing adequate diagnostic assessment within forensic settings and of developing interventions programs that take into account the presence of psychiatric problems.