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Care for older forensic mental health patients: a consensus guidance document

Care for older forensic mental health patients: a consensus guidance document

Tomlin, Jack ORCID: 0000-0002-7610-7918, Walker, Kate, Yates, Jen, Dening, Tom, Goethals, Kris, Völlm, Birgit and Griffiths, Chris (2023) Care for older forensic mental health patients: a consensus guidance document. European Psychiatry, 66 (1):e44. pp. 1-31. ISSN 0924-9338 (Print), 1778-3585 (Online) (doi:https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2413)

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Abstract

It is important to investigate the needs, experiences, and outcomes of older forensic mental health inpatients. In this consensus document, we offer practitioners working with older forensic inpatients recommendations to meet the unique older-age-related needs of this group. We report on the findings of a scoping review of service provision and age-responsive interventions for this population. We complement this with a review of qualitative studies investigating staff and patient views on age-responsive inpatient care. The guidance synthesises this evidence into sections on: epidemiological studies of demographic, clinical and legal profiles; qualitative studies; investigations of patient need; evidence for interventions tailored to this patient group; future directions for research; and finally, recommendations for practice. Forensic patients over the age of 50 years have a different set of psychological and physical health needs from their peers. There is a dearth of dedicated interventions and support to assist patients through secure services and into the community. We suggest service providers involve older patients in treatment and service organisation decisions, adapt interventions to be responsive to this group, train staff to recognise physical vulnerabilities and cognitive decline, embrace methods of communication developed in other areas of care, such as dementia.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: forensic mental health; older patients; consensus guidance; gerontology; forensic psychiatry
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
K Law > K Law (General)
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group: Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences > School of Law & Criminology (LAC)
Last Modified: 04 Jul 2023 12:40
URI: http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/43007

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