Psychopathology in female juvenile offenders

Background: The aim was to document the spectrum of present and lifetime psychological disorders in female juvenile offenders, and to examine the relations between mental health status and socio‐demographic, family and trauma variables. Method: One hundred juvenile offenders were matched with a comparison group of 100 females on age and socioeconomic status (SES). Psychological profiles and trauma histories of both groups were assessed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School‐Age Children – Present and Lifetime Version (K‐SADS‐PL) and family functioning was assessed with the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale II (FACES II) self‐report measure. Results: Rates of psychopathology were higher for offenders than non‐offenders (p