Background: Incarcerated women with eating disorders share similar socioeconomic backgrounds and present with comorbidity of other mental disorders. The limited access to nutrition and exercise in correction environments can make treatment challenging. This presentation outlines the socioeconomic characteristics, comorbities, and promising treatment options of and for incarcerated women.
Objectives: Following this presentation, participants will be able to 1) identify socioeconomic risk factors associated with incarcerated females with eating disorders, 2) identify common comorbidities among incarcerated woman, specifically obsessive compulsive disorders and substance use disorders and 3) Explain and implement treatment strategies appropriate for incarcerated women both in correctional environments and for formerly incarcerated woman released back into community treatment
II. Background/Review of the Literature: Literature examining incarcerated females with eating disorders indicate this population shares common characteristics in socioeconomic status, as well as comorbidity with other mental illnesses that can be related to arrests. Recent research indicates didactic methods of treatment intervention are emerging as effective ways to treat eating disorders within correctional environments, as well as in the community following these females' reentry into society.
III. Learning objectives. Following this presentation, participants will be able to
A. identify socioeconomic risk factors associated with incarcerated females with eating disorders,
B. identify common comorbidities among incarcerated woman, specifically obsessive compulsive disorders and substance use disorders
C. Explain and implement treatment strategies appropriate for incarcerated women both in correctional environments and for formerly incarcerated woman released back into community treatment
IV. Significance and Conclusion: As increasing numbers of the mentally ill are entering the criminal justice system, the socioeconomic factors, comorbidity statistics, and effective treatments of eating disorders assist clinicians working both in and outside of correctional healthcare in the treatment of mental health needs incarcerated females.
V. References: All References will be listed in APA style
Alexandra Pajak, LCSW has over eight years of experience in correctional mental healthcare. After matriculating from the University of Georgia School of Social Work, Alexandra has specialized in women's health, correctional mental health, eating disorders, substance abuse disorders, and personality disorders.
