Should there be separate forensic psychiatry services for ethnic minority patients?

Abstract

The recently published report into the death of David Bennett has once again prompted debate on the way forensic psychiatric services care for patients from minority ethnic groups. This paper reviews the literature on the rate of psychiatric disorder in the African-Caribbean population, as an example of a minority ethnic group, and considers the treatment that they receive from psychiatric services. A small number of separate services for patients from ethnic minority groups have been developed in general psychiatry. The arguments for and against the development of such services in forensic psychiatry, and the effect such services may have on training and research, is discussed.

Keywords:

• Forensic psychiatry services
• ethnic minority group
• psychiatric disorder
• medication
• psychotherapy
• specialist services