Abstract

In this article, the authors attempt to better examine the practice of prescription of psychotropic medication of inmates of Québec's correctional facilities. Although prescription of this medication is considered the most widespread "psychiatric treatment," studies on the prevalence of these prescriptions remain scarce. The study includes a sample of 671 inmates, 500 men and 171 women. Globally, 40,3 % of inmates have received at least one prescription for psychotropic medication in the period between 2002 and 2007. Results show that women are more likely than men to have been prescribed medication. Inmates who have received at least one prescription are older than other inmates. Most prescriptions have been given by physicians and the cases of polypharmacy are numerous. On a period of five years, the class of medication the most widely prescribed is the following: anxiety/hypnotic medication, antidepressants and antipsychotic medication. The authors conclude that further analysis of factors associated with prescription of this class of medication of this population is needed.