Present status of forensic psychiatry in Iceland

This paper gives a brief survey of forensic psychiatry in Iceland at the present time. Because of few inhabitants and limited financial resources there are no special forensic psychiatric institutions in the country, nor any forensic psychiatrists; this kind of work is mainly carried our by general psychiatrists, but also to a certain extent by general practitioners, Formalities around compulsory admission and detention of mental patients, uncooperative and lacking insight, are briefly described. The psychiatric examination of probably mentally ill offenders is also accounted for. Such investigations are without doubt the main task of forensic psychiatry in Iceland to-day. Finally the main faults of forensic psychiatric services in Iceland and very limited educational facilities in this domain are referred to. Some future plans are also mentioned.