Attitudes of psychiatrists towards forensic psychiatry: a survey

Abstract

Forensic psychiatry has been rapidly expanding in recent years and more NHS forensic beds are planned. This study aimed to examine the attitudes of psychiatrists towards forensic psychiatry. A questionnaire was given to psychiatrists attending a regional Royal College of Psychiatrists conference. In addition forensic psychiatrists were surveyed in the two local regional secure units. Ninety-eight psychiatrists, including twenty-four forensic psychiatrists, completed the questionnaire. Forensic and non-forensic psychiatrists tended to agree with the expansion in forensic beds. Non-forensic psychiatrists wanted a lower threshold for admission to secure units. Forensic psychiatrists disagreed. Non-forensic psychiatrists tended to feel that forensic psychiatry has been over-funded compared with other psychiatric services. They also commented that forensic services should integrate more closely with other non-secure psychiatric services and should offer more community forensic services rather than concentrating care on in-patients. Forensic services should consider what services they provide and try to meet the desires of secondary services, such as more community forensic services and greater integration with other psychiatric services.