Objectives As the population of the older adults in the world and Iran grows, the population of the older adults in prison is also increasing. Issues related to criminals and prisoners, especially its relationship with psychiatric issues, are one of the most challenging and widely used fields of research. In the country's prisons, more research is needed on the problems of this age group, especially their mental problems. This study aimed to compare the personality disorders of older adults offenders in Tehran prisons based on the type of crime in 1402.
Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional study (descriptive-analytical) that was conducted on 274 prisoners aged 60 years and older in two prisons in Feshafoye and Shahr Ray women in 1402. Sampling was done using a systematic random method and the demographic characteristics questionnaire (MCMI-3) was completed by the older adults. Data analysis was done using spss software and descriptive statistics and comparison tests between qualitative variables with Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test.
Findings: Of the 274 people surveyed, 199 (72.6%) had at least one personality disorder. The mean and standard deviation of the total age of the subjects is 163.5 ± 65.03. The largest age group participating in the study was male with 86.9%. The lowest prevalence of personality disorder was sadistic personality disorder )0.4%(and the highest prevalence was Histrionic personality disorder)31%(. There is significant relationship between the frequency of prevalence of Histrionic personality disorder in the subjects based on the type of crime(P=0/001, df=7, χ2 =43/565). There is also a significant relationship between the prevalence of obsessive personality disorder in the subjects based on the type of crime (P= 0/005, df=7, χ2=20/531).In addition, the percentage of Histrionic and obsessive personality disorder is higher in debt and fraud offenders than in other offenders.
Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of personality disorders in the older adults prisoners, the results of this study suggest that educational measures and early identification of these disorders, as well as counseling to modify inappropriate behaviors in these individuals, will create the background for future crimes. Release may lead to recidivism and re-imprisonment, planning and implementation.