Undetected psychosis and the need for improved screening Prisoners with psychosis differed, as expected, from psychotic persons in households in having specific characteristics known to be associated with criminal convictions. They were younger, more often single, of lower social class, with more from ethnic minorities. They were more anxious, more were substance abusers, and more had experienced early adversities and demonstrated behavioural problems prior to the start of their criminal careers. Although they differed from other non-psychotic prisoners in having more adverse life events in adulthood, these were generally the same as those observed among psychiatric persons in households, suggesting they were secondary to their psychotic illness rather than part of a criminal lifestyle.