Psychopharmacology in the Jail Setting

Abstract

Abstract Psychotropic medications are an important part of mental health treatment in the jail setting. Together with other therapeutic modalities, medications can help relieve newly identified, ongoing or worsening psychiatric symptoms, which may be exacerbated by the stress of incarceration. The jail environment presents particular challenges to diagnosis and medication treatment, including environmental factors, risk for diversion and abuse, formulary limitations, and thus psychiatric prescribers may need to modify community recommendations. Recognition of the limitations of psychopharmacology in this setting and avoidance of polypharmacy is also important with this challenging patient population. This chapter offers guidance on procedural and specific medication-related concerns for psychiatric prescribing in jails.