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The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) - Service correctionnel du Canada

The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) - Service correctionnel du Canada

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currently no standardised follow up testing proce<strong>du</strong>re in place; chief psychologists at each of<br />

the reception centres determine the nature of the follow-up testing. A standardised<br />

assessment proce<strong>du</strong>re and an automated system recording those who refused assessment<br />

would assist in establishing the prevalence of mental disorder in CSC as well as the validity<br />

of chosen cut off scores on the CoMHISS measures. <strong>The</strong> large number of male respondents<br />

who have completed these assessment measures at reception and the unique characteristics of<br />

the federal population argue for the development of CSC-specific norms. <strong>The</strong>se norms have<br />

been established in this study but further research is required to determine which scores are<br />

meaningful to the selection of offenders for follow up services. Norms specific to federally<br />

sentenced women offenders will also need to be established when a sufficient number will<br />

have completed the measures.<br />

<strong>The</strong> easily modifiable nature of the centralized programming mo<strong>du</strong>le allows for<br />

several future adjustments to be made to the CoMHISS that will increase its utility. <strong>The</strong><br />

addition of supplementary tests that could assess cognitive ability, attention deficit disorder<br />

and neurological/neurophysiological functioning are some areas that are being explored.<br />

Amalgamation of the mental health data with data from the computerised substance abuse<br />

assessment tool would allow CSC to flag offenders with co-occurring disorders. It is still not<br />

known what impact high rates of reported psychological distress have on the institutional and<br />

community adjustment of offenders. Further research is needed that would not only validate<br />

the CoMHISS screening measures against clinical interview findings but also relate the<br />

scores to offenders’ behaviour in the institutions and on conditional release. This project of<br />

research will provide CSC with important information on the relationship of psychological<br />

distress and other indicators of psychological problems with key corporate results.<br />

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