What shall we do with untreatable forensic psychiatric patients?
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 10, 2026

MRI-guided dmPFC-rTMS as a Treatment for Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder
Published on: August 11, 2015
Abstract:
The destiny of untreatable forensic psychiatric patients in many western countries is uncertain, because governments, staff members of forensic psychiatric hospitals, lawyers and other involved groups do not know what to do with this category of patients. The debate concerning this matter, and related cost saving measures, very frequently ignores two important questions. Who is responsible for the untreatability of these patients? What are the criteria for untreatability? These core questions, which are related to each other, must be answered before the debate can go further. An exact definition of untreatability is needed for a) a fair screening of the patients, and b) getting more insight in the precise nature of, and interactions of the factors which play a role in the phenomenon of untreatability. To say that some patients are not (totally) responsible for their untreatability is not justifiable, as they may eventually become the victims of cost saving measures.
Related Concept Videos
Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
Psychosurgery
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...
Electroconvulsive Therapy
Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...
Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview