The objectives of the present work were to evaluate the severity of drug abuse and drug dependence among prisoners as well as their emotional aspects, and to relate drug use with violent behavior, symptoms of depression and anxiety, type of crime and relapse. The instruments used were: BDI, BAI, STAXI and MINI Plus. The participants (N=60) were on average 27.88 years old (SD=4.53) and the minimum period of imprisonment was four months. The results showed that aggressiveness levels were low, and depression and anxiety levels were minimal in prisoners. However, a long history of alcohol consumption and other drugs abuse were observed among them as well as traits of depressive symptoms and aggressiveness. In conclusion, a large number of prisoners were alcohol addicted and their main kind of crime was robbery. They also showed emotional disorders related to aggressiveness and depression.
Aggressiveness; depression; anxiety; men; Neuropsychology
