Feasibility and Acceptability of PRISMA for Prisoners in Switzerland

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF ZURICH · May 6, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, called PRISMA for Prisoners, aims to help improve the mental health of people in pretrial detention in Switzerland. Many detainees experience psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and thoughts of self-harm, and this program seeks to provide support through a special intervention based on effective therapy techniques. The trial will test how well the PRISMA program works and whether inmates find it helpful.

To participate, individuals must be at least 18 years old and entering one of the pretrial detention facilities in Zurich or Bern. They should also speak one of the nine languages in which PRISMA is offered. Unfortunately, those who are in acute distress or not interested in joining the study won’t be eligible. Participants can expect to engage in activities designed to improve their mental well-being and share their feedback on the program. This trial is an important step toward developing more effective mental health support for detainees.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Entering pretrial detention inmate in any of the 11 pretrial detention facilities in the Cantons of Zurich and Bern
• • aged ≥ 18 years
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Not fluently speaking any of the nine languages in which PRISMA is offered: German, Albanian, Arabic, English, French, Italian, Romanian, Serbian/ Croatian, Spanish
• • Acute suicidality
• • Not interested in PRISMA and its randomized evaluation