Mental Health Symptom Reduction in US Adults Post-Incarceration

Background and Purpose: The United States (U.S.) detains a disproportionate number of individuals grappling with mental health issues, with social workers assuming a primary role in assisting this demographic as they reintegrate into society post-incarceration. This underscores the necessity for efficient behavioral health reentry interventions to facilitate the shift from imprisonment to community re-engagement. This scoping review aims to examine interventions designed to alleviate mental health symptoms among individuals transitioning from incarceration to community life, providing a comprehensive overview of the existing literature on this topic area.

Methods: This scoping literature review followed the method outlined by Arksey and O’Malley (2005). Publications needed to meet specific criteria: targeting adults (18+ years old) within the United States, facilitating the transition from incarceration to the community by initiating treatment within a correctional facility, and ensuring continuity of care through connection to a community provider. Database-specific keywords were formulated, and the study utilized several databases including the Criminal Justice Database, Sociological Abstracts, Social Services Abstracts, National Criminal Justice Service Abstracts, Criminal Justice Abstracts, SocIndex, PsycINFO, and Social Work Abstracts. Out of 1,924 initially identified publications, duplicates were identified and removed using the Rayyan software platform, resulting in 1,072 articles. Subsequently, the authors screened titles and abstracts against the inclusion criteria, with the initial criterion eliminating articles not meeting the requirements of a reentry program for adults. After this screening, 21 publications remained. Nine were excluded upon full-text examination for not meeting the inclusion criteria, leaving 12 publications that fulfilled all inclusion criteria and were consequently retained for the comprehensive review.

Results: Among the 12 articles in the review, four of the intervention studies were pilot evaluations and feasibility studies. Three were on interventions that specifically examined the feasibility and acceptability of interventions for women with criminal histories. The remaining five articles explored practical approaches, four centered around familial and social support/contact, and one addressed housing. In terms of research designs, nine studies employed within-group designs. Two articles utilized randomized controlled trials with treatment as usual, while one utilized a quasi-experimental design. Various measurement tools were employed across the studies to assess behavioral health symptoms, including self-reports, checklists, questionnaires, and scales, individually or in combination. The outcomes of the studies indicated a positive change in behavioral health symptoms based on the charted data, suggesting an enhancement in participants' mental well-being.

Conclusion and Implications: The analysis highlights a prevalent focus in research on reentry U.S. adults with mental health issues concentrating on the influence of behavioral health interventions on recidivism rather than the alleviation of mental health symptoms. Importantly, there are persistent gaps in knowledge, such as the lack of involvement from social work researchers and practitioners in testing interventions for this demographic. The conclusion serves as a call to action, discussing the implications for policy, research, and social work practice in tackling these challenges.