A final sample of 9,075 males and 2,537 females were divided into three groups: those who had never been on psychotropic medication or psychiatrically hospitalized, those with a previous history of medication or hospitalization, and those currently receiving medication on an outpatient basis at the prison. While the findings showed no disturbed-disruptive pattern in the male inmate population, there was a strong and independent effect of mental disorder on institutional misconduct among female prisoners. Women currently on psychotropic medication reported more adjustment problems in prison than nondisordered women. Women receiving psychopharmacological treatment were considerably more disruptive than men on medication. Previous research has shown that female inmates are more likely than males to be prescribed medication for milder disorders. 4 tables and 47 references