Determinants of Weight Gain in Forensic Psychiatric Care: A Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This is a protocol for a Campbell Systematic Review. The objective of this paper is to report a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis aiming to synthesise and evaluate the evidence on the determinants of weight gain within forensic psychiatric care. This protocol has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024586403) and developed in accordance with the PRISMA-P guidelines. Based on the Population, Exposure, Outcome framework, our study will explore demographic, behavioural, psychological, environmental, and pharmacological determinants of weight gain for individuals within forensic inpatient care. We will include adults within forensic inpatient mental health settings and synthesise data on any variable that is measured in accordance with weight gain. Quality of studies will be assessed by the relevant JBI tool. Screening will be undertaken independently by two reviewers, with a third reviewer available to address discrepancies. Data will be extracted using a standardised data extraction tool. Both screening and data extraction will be preceded by a piloting process to ensure consistency between reviewers. This will be the first study to synthesise the evidence and advance understanding of the determinants of weight gain within inpatient settings. The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis will have important implications for the design and development of weight management interventions within services offering inpatient forensic psychiatric care.