Evidence-based rehabilitation in forensic psychiatry

Abstract

Background: The extent to which forensic psychiatric rehabilitation alters an individual's level of risk is unclear.

Aims: To highlight some essential features of a forensic psychiatric rehabilitation system, and to discuss risk assessment in this context to create a conceptual framework for risk research and practice.

Method: The applicability of risk assessment instruments to forensic psychiatric rehabilitation was examined. Core processes and elements considered essential in this type of rehabilitative work were reviewed.

Results: Current risk research has limited application to rehabilitation. Future research aimed at analysing forensic psychiatric rehabilitation will be hampered by the complexity of the treatment systems and the number of methodological issues relevant to this type of research.

Conclusions: Novel research approaches are suggested to analyse further the risk factors and processes important in forensic psychiatric rehabilitation.