Forensic Mental Health: Concepts, systems, and practice

by Annie Bartlett (Editor), Gillian McGauley (Editor)

Overview

The UK locks up more individuals per year than in any other part of Europe. Many of these are suffering from some form of treatable mental disorder, yet, too often prison is viewed as the only option. Part of the problem is the range of individuals and specialties involved in making these crucial judgments. Government departments, health and social care and voluntary sector organizations, and frontline criminal justice and penal institutions are all engaged in the definition, management, and processing of the mentally disordered offender (MDO), leaving the individual in a "spider's web" of a system—often to their disadvantage.

This book presents a penetrating and thought provoking analysis of the forensic mental health system—how it operates, the people involved, the problems inherent in such a system, and the huge ethical dilemma of depriving an individual of their freedom. It brings together a range of specialists, each with considerable experience, who describe the processes involved in dealing with an MDO—from their own unique perspective.

The book will be essential for both students and professionals in the complex and ethically challenging discipline of forensic mental health.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198566854
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/30/2009
Pages:	448
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.60(h) x 1.10(d)

Table of Contents

Violence and dangerousness1. Introduction, Annie Bartlett2. Medical models of mental disorder, Annie Bartlett3. Violence in a criminological context, Darrick Jolliffe4. Psychiatric disorder: frequency and mechanisms in understanding violence, Tine Burke5. Gender, crime and violence, Annie Bartlett6. Race and culture: the relationship of complex social variables to the understanding of violence, Sharon Prince7. Domestic violence: genesis and perpetuation, Lorraine Bacchus and Gillian Aston8. Sexual offending: understanding motivations, Julia Houston9. Reponses to violence and trauma: the case of post-traumatic stress disorder, Gwen Adshead, Annie Bartlett and Gill MezeyForensic psychotherapy10. Introduction, Gillian McGauley11. Introduction to psychotherapy and mentally disordered offenders, Gillian McGauley12. Psychodynamic approaches to working with mentally disordered offenders, Steven Blumenthal13. Psychotherapeutic understanding and approach to psychosis in mentally disordered offenders, Cleo van Velsen14. Caring for individuals with personality disorder in secure settings, Gwen Adshead and Gillian McGauley15. Cognitive behavioural approaches to working with mentally disordered offenders, Derek Perkins16. Treating high risk mentally disordered offenders; the dangerous and severe personality disorder initiative, Val HawesLaw17. Introduction, Martin Wrench and Bridget Dolan18. Law and the mentally disordered offender: an overview of structures and statute, Martin Wrench and Bridget Dolan19. Insanity and homicide: 'new defences and old defences', Nerida Harford-Bell and Annie Bartlett20. Mental health law and mentally disorder offender, Sameer Sarkar21. Child care law and practice for mental health practitioners, Sarah Lerner and Lib SkinnerEthical aspects22. Introduction, Gwen Adshead23. Principles of ethical reasoning in forensic psychiatry, Gwen Adshead24. Ethical issues in secure care, Gwen Adshead25. Ethical roles, relationships and duties of forensic mental health clinicians, Nigel Eastman, Danny Riordan and Gwen AdsheadSocial policy26. Introduction to social policy and the mentally disordered offender, Annie Bartlett27. Organizational and conceptual frameworks and the mentally disordered offender, Annie Bartlett and Sue Kesteven28. Prison mental health care, Annie Bartlett and Crystal Romilly29. Current service provision for mentally disordered offenders, Annie Bartlett and Sue KestevenInternational30. Introduction, Annie Bartlett31. Forensic psychiatry in Australia, Rob Ferris32. Forensic mental health care in New Zealand, Ceri Evans33. Care and treatment of mentally disordered offenders in India, Jaydip Sarkar34. Reflections on the ethical complexities of medical life in apartheid South Africa, Trudi Roussouw35. Scottish forensic psychiatry, John Crichton36. Diminished responsibility as a cultural phenomenon (Netherlands), Emma van Hoecke37. Forensic mental health in (Switzerland), Madleina Manetsch38. Legal models and treatment approaches for the mentally disordered offender: United States of America, Sameer SarkarAppendixChildcare law and practice, Sarah Lerner and Lib Skinner

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Steven T Herron, MD (CPI/Assurance Health and Wellness)
Description: Based upon the concept that forensic populations are diverse and create unique challenges for evaluation and treatment, this book attempts to address various aspects of working with mentally disordered offenders (MDO) with a multicultural perspective.
Purpose: Every country addresses the assessment and treatment of forensic populations using different methods. This book aims to compile some of these approaches to provide a launching platform for future discussion regarding unresolved issues in dealing with MDOs.
Audience: Although they gear the book primarily for mental health providers working with forensic populations, the editors also feel it is a worthy resource for anyone interested in MDOs, whether their focus is on the clinical aspects or they are more intrigued by the social policy questions these populations raise.
Features: Divided into six main sections (Violence and Dangerousness, Forensic Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Mentally Disordered Offenders, Law, Ethical Aspects, Social Policy, International), this book offers many perspectives on the problem of MDOs. Most chapters have many tables, but no pictures, and only a handful of diagrams to break up the text. Chapters end with brief but appropriate references.
Assessment: Though the United States has seen its forensic population steadily increase over the past 30 years, there has been little in the way of research regarding the most effective treatments and interventions for MDOs, especially as they relate to decreasing risk for future offenses. Written from a global perspective, this work briefly discusses many of the reasons why this patient population is challenging and how countries throughout the world (mainly what most would consider Western countries and cultures) approach these patients. While laws and ethical standards vary between countries, understanding multicultural perspectives is valuable and illuminating. The one topic conspicuously absent from this book is the small subset of women offenders who are likely to require more specialized services. Overall, however, it is well written and interesting to read.

Doody's Review Service

Reviewer:Steven T. Herron, MD(University of Arizona Health Sciences Center)
Description:Based upon the concept that forensic populations are diverse and create unique challenges for evaluation and treatment, this book attempts to address various aspects of working with mentally disordered offenders (MDO) with a multicultural perspective.
Purpose:Every country addresses the assessment and treatment of forensic populations using different methods. This book aims to compile some of these approaches to provide a launching platform for future discussion regarding unresolved issues in dealing with MDOs.
Audience:Although they gear the book primarily for mental health providers working with forensic populations, the editors also feel it is a worthy resource for anyone interested in MDOs, whether their focus is on the clinical aspects or they are more intrigued by the social policy questions these populations raise.
Features:Divided into six main sections (Violence and Dangerousness, Forensic Psychotherapeutic Approaches to Mentally Disordered Offenders, Law, Ethical Aspects, Social Policy, International), this book offers many perspectives on the problem of MDOs. Most chapters have many tables, but no pictures, and only a handful of diagrams to break up the text. Chapters end with brief but appropriate references.
Assessment:Though the United States has seen its forensic population steadily increase over the past 30 years, there has been little in the way of research regarding the most effective treatments and interventions for MDOs, especially as they relate to decreasing risk for future offenses. Written from a global perspective, this work briefly discusses many of the reasons why this patient population is challenging and how countries throughout the world (mainly what most would consider Western countries and cultures) approach these patients. While laws and ethical standards vary between countries, understanding multicultural perspectives is valuable and illuminating. The one topic conspicuously absent from this book is the small subset of women offenders who are likely to require more specialized services. Overall, however, it is well written and interesting to read.