Study of the clinical and forensic outcome of admission to a forensic psychiatry day hospital at one, two, and three years

Abstract

This study took place in a community forensic psychiatry service, which employs a day hospital model. This day hospital provides the main route of discharge from the local low secure inpatient forensic service. Data were gathered primarily via retrospective case note review. Participants were followed up at one, two, and three years. Outcomes included location, reconviction, and current legal status. Demographic data showed that our participants matched other low secure populations. Location at follow-up showed that by Year 3 84% of our population were resident in the community. The overall reconviction rate for the group over the three-year period was 30%. Detention status over the three years showed that there was increasing informal patient status over the three years. While our overall reconviction rate of 30% over a three-year period was similar to that found in previous studies, a notable difference from past studies was the high proportion of patients remaining in the community. We conclude that in the difficult area of providing aftercare to forensic psychiatry patients, the day hospital model appears to show promise in improving outcomes related to both reoffending and community reintegration.

Keywords:

• low secure
• day hospital
• community
• outcomes
• forensic
• aftercare

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the nursing team at the Birnam Day Centre for their assistance.