Attitudes towards criminal and other patients

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychiatry
• Medical Sociology

Background:

• Investigating staff attitudes in forensic psychiatric settings is crucial for understanding treatment barriers.
• Previous studies indicate varied staff acceptance of drug trials in mental health settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess staff attitudes towards drug trials and treatment for mentally abnormal offenders.
• To compare these attitudes with those towards somatic illnesses and other neuropsychiatric disorders.

Main Methods:

• A drug trial on a forensic psychiatric assessment ward was used to gauge personnel attitudes.
• Self-rating scales employing a 10-cm line technique measured attitudes of 21 general physicians.
• Attitudes towards mentally abnormal offenders, drug treatment, and 10 illnesses were assessed.

Main Results:

• 79% of forensic ward personnel had negative attitudes towards drug trials, contrasting with positive attitudes in general mental hospitals.
• 75% of respondents believed drug treatment offered no patient benefit.
• General physicians rated assessment and drug treatment of mentally abnormal offenders least favorably compared to somatic illnesses.

Conclusions:

• Negative attitudes towards the assessment and drug treatment of mentally abnormal offenders are prevalent among forensic psychiatric staff and general physicians.
• These attitudes are significantly less favorable than those towards somatic illnesses.
• It is believed these negative attitudes are broadly shared across medical and nursing staff.