Psychiatric rehabilitation in secure forensic settings in NSW: Measuring outcomes

To quantify outcomes for patients of forensic psychiatric rehabilitation in NSW.

Data on 245 conditionally released forensic patients was extracted from the Mental Health Review Tribunal (MHRT) files and matched to several state-wide datasets. Descriptive statistics were generated to establish the cohort characteristics, rates of reoffending and social and clinical outcomes.

At conditional release, social circumstances for the majority of patients were improved. Clinically, the cohort was more stable, though many did not remain stable over time. Only one-fifth of the sample received a further criminal charge.

Preliminary evidence suggests that forensic rehabilitation services in NSW are effective.