Monitoring Risk Behaviors by Managing Social Support in the Network of a Forensic Psychiatric Patient: A Single-Case Analysis

Abstract

This prospective case study examines changes over time in the social support network of a forensic psychiatric patient diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The focus is on the functional and dysfunctional influences of the patient’s social support dynamics on his risk behavior during mandatory policlinic treatment. A structured Forensic Social Network Analysis interview was conducted with the patient and two of his network members at four time points in his treatment process. The patient’s social supporters, their structural network position, and their risk are pooled and labeled through a triad census method. The number of practical and emotional supporters decreased over time in the network of the patient, which also resulted in a decrease of high-risk practical and emotional supporters. The size and composition of financial support in the network of the patient remained almost stable. Monitoring and analyzing social support using the triad census method provides valuable insights for individual risk management purposes.

KEYWORDS:

• social support
• forensic psychiatry
• risk management
• triad census method
• forensic attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• case study

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to het Dok for allowing us to perform this research. We also thank Peter, who gave permission for us to use the data for scientific research. The research was conducted independently; the executive board of het Dok did not play a role in the research design, the data collection, the analysis, or the interpretation of the data.