Balancing security and care: Gender relations of nursing staff in forensic psychiatric care

Social-historical study aimed at discussing the nursing and psychiatric nurse models, from the discourses published in the Annals of Nursing. The historical sources were articles published in the Annals of Nursing journal, from 1933 to 1951. An analysis of the discourse was subsidized by the genealogy of power by Michel Foucault. The analysis showed that the discourse on nursing and the psychiatric nurse, in the first half of the 20th century, is set, on one side, by the propositions used by psychiatrists, who sought to reiterate stereotypes and vocations to practice nursing, and, on the other side, by the active participation of nurses seeking to legitimize expertise for psychiatric nursing. It was concluded that the discourses analyzed defined a psychiatric care focused on the nurse and not the rest of the nursing staff, at that time.

Download Full-text

Towards an EU research framework on forensic psychiatric care: Introduction, structure, activities and results of cost action Is1302

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.881 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (S1) ◽

pp. S584-S584

Author(s):

L. Castelletti ◽

F. Scarpa

Keyword(s):

Best Practice ◽

Psychiatric Care ◽

Service Providers ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Legal Framework ◽

Mentally Ill Offenders ◽

Mentally Disordered Offenders ◽

Cost Action ◽

Forensic Psychiatric

IntroductionForensic psychiatric care is aimed at improving mental health and reducing the risk of recidivism of mentally ill offenders. For some mentally disordered offenders long forensic psychiatric care is required. Due to different legal framework, policies and resources in member countries, treatment programs and care provided for these subjects may vary substantially across Europe.ObjectivesCOST Action IS1302, a EU project aimed at establishing a European network of researchers, clinicians and service providers about long-term forensic psychiatric care, has involved nineteen European countries for 2013 to set the basis for comparative evaluation and research on effective treatment and the development of best practice in long-term forensic psychiatry in Europe.MethodIt is constituted by three main areas of interest and research. One group works on determination of patient characteristics, looking into prevalence, duration of stay and the most determinant characteristics of long term patients. The second area of research aims at obtaining better understanding of complex external factors that influence the poor progress of patients residing for an above average time in forensic services. Third group of research focuses on knowledge about specific needs brought about by psychiatric symptoms and how these specific needs might optimize the quality of life of patients in long term forensic psychiatric care.Results/conclusionsLaunched four years ago, the action is at its last of activities. We display features, activities and data emerging from the research conducted so far.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Download Full-text

A plea against over specialisation in forensic psychiatry

Psychiatric Bulletin ◽

10.1192/pb.16.7.439 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 16 (7) ◽

pp. 439-442 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Eric F. Mendelson

Keyword(s):

Forensic Psychiatry ◽

Psychiatric Care ◽

Early Stage ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Integrated System ◽

Forensic Patients ◽

Secure Care ◽

Regional Service ◽

Forensic Psychiatric ◽

Special Responsibility

The optimal system for delivering forensic psychiatric care has yet to be established. At an early stage, Gunn (1977) drew attention to the differing models of a ‘parallel’ service and an ‘integrated’ approach. Only with the integrated system do forensic patients pass to ordinary NHS facilities when they no longer require security or other specialist expertise. The debate can be extended into whether forensic services should be provided by regional units, by district services, or by a mixture of both. Indeed, the Royal College of Psychiatrists (1988) recognised that in addition to a regional service led by a fully trained forensic psychiatrist, secure care can be provided at a district level by consultants who have sufficient training to hold posts with a special responsibility. Furthermore, managers are understandably keen for as much as possible to be provided by their own district services.

Download Full-text