Abstract:
Objective: To canvass the opinions of psychiatrists working in forensic settings on the definition of forensic patient and treatablity. Method: A questionnaire was circulated. Respondents were asked to define forensic patient, associated social dangerousness with mental health and involvement with judicial system. Results: Forty-eight (44%) of the 109 respondents attempted to define forensic patient. Only 54% considered forensic patient in general as treatable. Conclusions: Most of the psychiatrists failed to agree on a mutual definition and tended to include forensic issues when attempting to define the forensic patient. Furthermore a significant minority believe that forensic patients can benefit from treatment. This has important implications, both for the general education of psychiatrist and for forensic psychiatry.
Page(s):
68-70
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Rawal Medical Journal, Volume: 29, Issue: 2, Year: 2004