Explorations of head injury, trauma and disabilities within criminal justice settings, with consideration of gender

Background: Although studies report a high prevalence of HI within prisons, evidence has not extended to associated disability. Non-prison studies identify gender differences in disability outcomes and there is concern that women prisoners recover less well after HI. Aim: To explore gender differences in disability, associated with HI or from any cause, in prisoners in Scotland. Methods: Secondary data on 200 prisoners across six Scottish prisons was analysed for outcomes related to HI, gender, disability, and covariates (anxiety, depression, substance use) using ordinal logistic regressions. Results: Gender was associated with disability from any cause, with females experiencing poorer outcomes on the Glasgow Outcome at Discharge Scale. No gender differences were found with disability associated with HI. Overall, psychological distress was associated with more severe disability, and substance use with disability from any cause in males. Conclusions: Investigations of disability from any cause informs research on HI given the high numbers reporting HI as a causal factor. Female prisoners have poorer disability outcomes, from any cause, highlighting gender difference in recovery. Further research into HI, disability, mood, and mediators of female disability, is important.