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Concurrent disorders treatment and rehospitalization in a forensic population
Higenbottam, Heather (Mandi)
Brandon, Manitoba
Brandon University, Faculty of Health Studies
2019
v, 78 pages
thesis
Includes bibliographical references (pages 65-78). "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Psychiatric Nursing."
English
The prevalence of concurrent mental illness and substance use is high in general psychiatric patient populations and is an acknowledged risk factor for re-hospitalization. Similarly, concurrent disorders are recognized as a risk factor for re-offending among correctional populations. However, there is currently little evidence regarding the relationship between concurrent disorders and rehospitalization in forensic psychiatric populations. This study therefore investigated the prevalence of concurrent disorders among forensic patients and the relationship of concurrent disorders to rehospitalization in a forensic psychiatric hospital following discharge, comparing whether individuals who received comprehensive risk/needs assessment and inpatient treatment for concurrent disorders had better outcomes than patients who did not. A retrospective chart review compared data from a sample of treatment and non-treatment patients (i.e. patients admitted for court ordered assessment) discharged from a Canadian Forensic Psychiatric Hospital (FPH) in the years 2015-2017. Using quantitative methods we contrasted rates of voluntary and involuntary (direct backs, breaches) rehospitalization and the reasons for returning to hospital as a function of whether the patient’s treatment team had completed a Short Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START) and whether they had received inpatient treatment for concurrent disorders in hospital. Results demonstrated that regardless of diagnosis or concurrent disorders treatment, patients who had completed START assessments and who received long term hospitalization had better outcomes than those who did not. This highlights the value of individualized risk/needs assessments for forensic populations and suggests the clinical importance of long-term, continuous care relationships in improving patient outcomes, specifically rehospitalization.
Forensic psychiatric nursingMentally ill offenders--Psychological testing
Brandon UniversityFaculty of Health Studies
