Sociology Professor Examines Psychiatric Disorders After Incarceration

Associate Professor of Sociology Jason Schnittker co-authored a study that shows many of the most common psychiatric disorders found in former inmates emerge in childhood or adolescence and predate incarceration. However, spending time incarcerated does seem to lead to certain mood-related psychiatric disorders, such as depression. Such effects of incarceration have implications for an inmate's life after prison.

“Even though many former inmates want to get back on their feet after release, they experience numerous difficulties in doing so, some legal, some social and some personal,” Schnittker said. “Being depressed probably makes all of these obstacles even more difficult to overcome. Reentry requires motivation, and depression can rob you of that.”

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Arts & Sciences News

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