Attempting to Understand the Increase in the Numbers of Forensic Beds in Europe: A Multi-site Study of Patients in Forensic and General Psychiatric Services

Abstract

The study aimed to shed light on the recent dramatic increase in the number of forensic beds in Europe. A total of 184 patients being discharged from forensic hospitals and 122 from general psychiatry wards in sites in Canada, Finland, Germany, and Sweden were assessed and followed for two years. Information was collected from multiple sources. Forensic patients were distinguished from general psychiatric patients primarily by their histories of physical violence towards others and the trait of callousness. At discharge, the level of risk for future violence was similar among the general and forensic patients, but associated factors differed. The increase in forensic beds appears to be a response to violent behavior on the part of male patients with schizophrenia.