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Abstract
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OBJECTIVE: To determine forensic, clinical, social and administrative outcomes of high-security patients.
METHOD: Prospective year follow-up study of 169 patients with schizophrenia, 1992-1993.
RESULTS: By the end of the study, 46 (27.2%) patients were in high security, 43 (25.5%) in medium- or low-secure units, 35 (20.7%) in an open ward, 3 (1.8%) in prison and 40 (23.7%) in the community. Violence occurred in 75% of patients over the 10-year follow-up period, and this was serious in 25%. Continuous positive symptoms of psychosis were present in over one-third. One-third had self-harmed during this period but there was only one known suicide and 11 (6.5%) deaths in total. At the end of the study, there was only one person in voluntary employment, 18 (12.7%) living independently and 10 (7.1%) in a relationship. Models were developed to determine factors relevant to these major outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study providing comprehensive outcome data over a 10-year period. Forensic services appear good at managing the risk to the community but poor at promoting better social outcomes. The levels of violence within inpatient units are high. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Language: en |