Characteristics and needs of long-stay forensic psychiatric inpatients: a rapid review of the literature

Huband, Nick; Furtado, Vivek; Schel, Sandra; Eckert, Mareike; Cheung, Natalie; Bulten, Erik; V�llm, Birgit

Abstract

This rapid review summarises currently available information on the definition, prevalence, characteristics and needs of long-stay patients within forensic psychiatric settings. Sixty nine documents from 14 countries were identified. Reports on what constitutes ‘long-stay’ and on the characteristics of long-stay patients were inconsistent. Factors most frequently associated with longer stay were seriousness of index offence, history of psychiatric treatment; cognitive deficit, severity of illness, diagnosis of schizophrenia or psychotic disorder, history of violence, and history of substance misuse. Although some countries are developing specific long-stay services, there is presently no consensus on what might constitute ‘best practice’ in such settings.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 12, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Jan 15, 2018
• Deposit Date: Nov 15, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 16, 2019
• Journal: International Journal of Forensic Mental Health
• Print ISSN: 1499-9013
• Electronic ISSN: 1932-9903
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 1
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14999013.2017.1405124
• Keywords: Forensic psychiatry; Length of stay; Long-stay patients; Mentally disordered offenders; Patients’ needs
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/904643
• Publisher URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14999013.2017.1405124
• Additional Information: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Forensic Mental Health on 15 January 2018, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/14999013.2017.1405124