Forensic and general psychiatric patients' view of seclusion: a comparison study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the views of secluded patients in a forensic setting with the views of those in a general psychiatric setting. Subjects numbered 106 secluded patients, in the two forensic psychiatric hospitals and in the general psychiatric in-patient units of two hospital districts in Finland during a one-year recruitment period. The subjects were interviewed shortly after seclusion and re-interviewed half a year later. Regardless of more frequent and longer-term use of seclusion in the forensic group, the only difference between the two groups was that the forensic patients viewed seclusion as a form of punishment more frequently. Most of the subjects knew the reason for their seclusion, they were dissatisfied with interaction opportunities during seclusion and their opinions of seclusion as a negative experience and punishment did not change during the follow-up. Furthermore, the subjects suggested many practical improvements on the present use of seclusion. Though seclusion may not always be avoidable, its application could be done in a more therapeutic manner.

Keywords:

• forensic psychiatry
• coercion
• seclusion
• patients' experiences