Behavioural problems and psychiatric co-morbidity of adolescent females after residential placement in a juvenile justice institution. (WC2006-008)

Background

Starting date: 01/06/2006 The last few decades, severe behavioral problems in female adolescents have increased in gravity and frequency, leading to damage to society, and resulting in lifetime social and health consequences for the individuals. Because of this, females with most severe types of behavioral problems are increasingly being detained in closed Juvenile Justice Institutions (JJI). Rates of psychiatric co-morbidity up to 95% have been reported in detained adolescent females, while the literature on the course of psychiatric disorders post-detention is lacking. Despite high levels of psychiatric problems, a psychiatric assessment is not standard in Dutch Juvenile Justice Institutions. As a result these female adolescents who are placed in JJIs are unlikely to receive adequate intervention. Until now, the developmental trajectories towards behavioral problems have almost been extensively investigated in boys. While gender-specific pathways have been suggested, similar research in females is sparse.