Care for older forensic mental health patients: A consensus guidance document

Tomlin, Jack; Walker, Kate; Yates, Jen; Dening, Tom; Goethals, Kris; Völlm, Birgit; Griffiths, Chris

Abstract

Background
It is important to investigate the needs, experiences, and outcomes of older forensic mental health inpatients. In this consensus document, we offer practitioners working with older forensic inpatients recommendations to meet the unique older-age-related needs of this group.

Method
We report on the findings of a scoping review of service provision and age-responsive interventions for this population. We complement this with a review of qualitative studies investigating staff and patient views on age-responsive inpatient care.

Results
The guidance synthesizes this evidence into sections on: epidemiological studies of demographic, clinical, and legal profiles; qualitative studies; investigations of patient need; evidence for interventions tailored to this patient group; future directions for research; and finally, recommendations for practice. Forensic patients over the age of 50 years have a different set of psychological and physical health needs from their peers. There is a dearth of dedicated interventions and support to assist patients through secure services and into the community.

Conclusions
We suggest service providers involve older patients in treatment and service organization decisions, adapt interventions to be responsive to this group, train staff to recognize physical vulnerabilities and cognitive decline, and embrace methods of communication developed in other areas of care, such as dementia Care.

Citation

Tomlin, J., Walker, K., Yates, J., Dening, T., Goethals, K., Völlm, B., & Griffiths, C. (2023). Care for older forensic mental health patients: A consensus guidance document. European Psychiatry, 66(1), Article e44. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2413

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 6, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jun 6, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023
• Deposit Date: Jun 8, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 8, 2023
• Journal: European Psychiatry
• Electronic ISSN: 1778-3585
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 66
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: e44
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2413
• Keywords: consensus guidance, gerontology, older patients, Forensic mental health, forensic psychiatry
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/21640695
• Publisher URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/european-psychiatry/article/care-for-older-forensic-mental-health-patients-a-consensus-guidance-document/2F80AD0397BD39BE602C8D180FF45D39