Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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A review and case report of pseudologia fantastica
- Authors:
- BIRCH Cheryl D., KELLN Brad R. C., AQUINO Emmanuel P. B.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology (The), 17(2), June 2006, pp.299-320.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Pseudologia fantastica (PF) is an understudied, poorly understood entity. The current diagnostic system captures intentional deception around physical or psychological problems but does not allow for diagnosis around prominent, purposeless deception within other realms (e.g., false accusations). In addition to reviewing the literature around PF, the authors report the case of a 22-year-old female who made frequent, dramatic false accusations against others for no apparent reason, and who possessed an unusual ability to convince others to collaborate in her lying. Her lies eventually resulted in a number of people being criminally charged, including a friend being imprisoned for over a year for staging an elaborate abduction, the burning of an apartment building, and the investigation of a small child for arson. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Violence in the workplace: new perspectives in forensic mental health services in the USA
- Authors:
- FLETCHER Tony A., BRAKEL Samuel Jan, CAVANAUGH James L.
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 176, April 2000, pp.339-344.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This paper reviews current research on workplace violence in the USA and offers suggestions concerning the roles that mental health professionals with forensic expertise can play in this expanding field. It aims to clarify the role of the mental health professional in evaluating issues related to workplace violence.
Evidence-based rehabilitation in forensic psychiatry
- Authors:
- LINDQVIST Per, SKIPWORTH Jeremy
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 176, April 2000, pp.320-323.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The extent to which forensic psychiatric rehabilitation alters an individual's level of risk is unclear. This article highlights some essential features of a forensic psychiatric rehabilitation system, and discusses risk assessment in this context to create a conceptual framework for risk research and practice. Results suggest that current risk research has limited application to rehabilitation. Future research aimed at analysing forensic psychiatric rehabilitation will be hampered by the complexity of the treatment systems and the number of methodological issues relevant to this type of research.
Service evaluation of the need for care and clinical risk management procedures using the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HoNOS) secure
- Authors:
- LIDDIARD Kim, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Forensic Practice, 21(1), 2019, pp.61-70.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore whether the current forensic mental health inpatient population within a medium secure unit is more or less complex (i.e. clinical and risk presentations) than former years using the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HoNOS) secure. Additionally, the use of the HoNOS secure as a service-wide measure is discussed in terms of its usefulness. Clinical implications and recommendations are offered for the continued use of the HoNOS secure in services more widely. Design/methodology/approach: A retrospective case review of completed HoNOS secure assessments for 130 patients over three time intervals 2012, 2015 and 2018 was used. A multivariate analysis was performed on the data using SPSS version 25. Findings: The findings revealed that contrary to clinical opinion, inpatients’ clinical and risk presentations had not changed significantly overtime. Research limitations/implications: The study shows the benefits of using the HoNOS secure at a service-wide level to explore and understand similarities and differences in inpatient admissions over time. It also highlights the usefulness of the HoNOS secure for considering different ward characteristics and the needs of patients residing in these environments. Originality/value: Although much research exists surrounding the individual use of the HoNOS secure in relation to outcomes, there is limited research focusing on use of the HoNOS secure at the service level. The paper therefore provides evidence of the utility and value of the HoNOS secure as a service-level outcome measure.
Predictors of violence in mental illness: the role of substance abuse and associated factors
- Authors:
- THOMSON Lindsay, WILSON Jonathan, ROBINSON Louise
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology (The), 20(6), December 2009, pp.919-927.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper examines the hypothesis that rates of substance misuse and violence are similar between male patients admitted to secure psychiatric care and their age-matched male siblings. Forty-two consecutive male admissions and 18 of their male siblings were interviewed to determine rates of mental illness, violence and past substance use. Hair analysis was performed. Both groups showed high rates of substance misuse and offending. However, rates were higher among patients, suggesting that their substance misuse and violence cannot all be explained by familial factors alone. History of conduct disorder (CD), more common in patients, was associated with drug misuse and violent offending. This supports evidence from other sources, suggesting that CD can be an important intermediary step in the development of substance use disorders and violence in those who subsequently develop major mental illness. A history of antisocial behaviour should be considered when assessing risk in patients with a mental disorder and a substance misuse problem.
A comparison of special hospital patients and other admissions to a regional low security unit
- Authors:
- SMITH Helen, WHITE Tom, MacCALL Callum
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology (The), 15(4), December 2004, pp.660-668.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This study aimed to assess if there were any identifiable characteristics that could predict a length of inpatient stay of greater than 2 years. This was in respect to patients admitted to the low security Tayside Regional Forensic service, over the course of 10 years, from high security and other sources. A comparison of risk characteristics was also conducted between the two groups. The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study. The control group were formed from the next consecutive admissions to the unit following an admission from a high secure setting. A full case note review and HCR-20's were carried out on all subjects. Regression analysis was utilized to distinguish if a single factor was significant in predicting a length of inpatient stay of more than 2 years. Patients transferred from special hospitals were more likely to have a diagnosis of Schizophrenia, have more serious index offence and more previous convictions. Patients from the high security group had a higher mean HCR-20 score and a significantly earlier age of onset of illness. The authors were unable to identify a single factor that would predict a length of inpatient stay of more than 2 years. They did identify that patients discharged from high security settings may require a longer inpatient stay and outpatient contact than patients admitted from other sources. The authors hope to add to the discussion concerning the requirement for long term low and medium secure care.
Management of conditionally discharged patients and others who present similar risks in the community: integrated or parallel?
- Authors:
- SNOWDEN Pete, McKENNA John, JASPER Anne
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, 10(3), December 1999, pp.583-596.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
There is no literature available on the styles of service provision for the supervision of high-risk mentally disordered offenders, in particular those subject to the provisions of s.41 of the Mental Health Act 1983. This article describes the historical background to the terms 'integrated' and parallel' care for mentally disordered offenders. It is argued that these terms no longer have any value. A four-level model of managing high-risk patients in the community is proposed, which relates to the assessment of clinical risks.
Psychiatric risk, safety cultures and homicide inquiries
- Author:
- TIDMARCH David
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, 8(1), May 1997, pp.138-151.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
The risk of homicide by psychiatric patients is quantified and set in the context of recent literature on risk. The reasons why the general public see this risk as unacceptable are outlined. This perception provides a rationale for homicide inquiries. There, like inquiries into non-medical disasters should look not only for failures by individuals but also for deficiencies in the safety culture of the relevant services.
Firesetting: psychopathology, theory and treatment
- Authors:
- GANNON Theresa A., PINA Afroditi
- Journal article citation:
- Aggression and Violent Behavior, 15(3), May 2010, pp.224-238.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This paper systematically reviews the characteristics of adult arsonists, and the etiological features of arson. In particular, it pays attention to current research available as to the core traits and psychopathological features required to understand arsonists, and the classificatory systems and etiological theories developed to understand it. This assessment of current research suggests that clinical knowledge and practice relating to arson is extremely immature relative to other areas of forensic-clinical psychology. The paper concludes that there are very few etiological theories available to guide consulting clinicians in this area, and little information available specifying the exact criminogenic needs related to arsonists, or how these needs compare to other offender groups. The considerable lack of contemporary treatment programmes designed to target arson behaviour is also noted. The paper ends by highlighting core areas for future research and treatment progression.
Recent research relevant to discharge planning from medium secure psychiatric units: re-examining the literature
- Authors:
- VAUGHAN Glenys, DONE D. John
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, 11(2), September 2000, pp.372-389.
- Publisher:
- Routledge
Clinicians working in NHS and private medium secure units aiming to produce effective community care plans for their patients are faced with large amounts of information from studies of community care. Conflicting results from large-scale studies have been further complicated by semantic confusions. Lack of consideration of the impact of international differences in systems of delivery of health and social care may also have affected attempts to replicate research results cross-nationally. Re-examining the literature for evidence of effectiveness with these points in mind produces some useful evidence. Using a needs-based approach to consider the characteristics of the current patient population in medium secure units presents possibilities of formulating effective community care plans based on current research evidence in the absence of studies of this particular group.