The Offense as Perceived by the Parents of Forensic Psychiatric Patients

Abstract

This study aims to describe the views of forensic psychiatric patients' parents, and especially how they feel about the patient's offense. The data analyzed was collected by interviews with forensic psychiatric patients' parents and analyzed by inductive content analysis. The findings suggest that the offense committed has a significant effect on the lives of parents of forensic psychiatric patients and in many ways these people felt like a marginalized group even though they were frequently a major resource for their child who had been taken into forensic psychiatric care. The parents of a forensic psychiatric patient have a prominent role in the life of the patient and this role and the parents' coping should also be supported by the forensic psychiatric treatment system.

Challenges experienced by South African families caring for state patients on leave of absence

“…The results showed no direct association between the serious nature of the crime and the parents’ emotional experiences. 12 …”

“…Burdensome feelings such as self-recriminations, mistrust, anxiety, bitterness and depression were reported by parents of forensic patients. 12 Caregivers were especially frustrated with SPs’ refusal to comply with treatment. 13 Families might have more empathy if they understand the experiences of forensic patients, such as a fear of being lost without the sense of security the institution provides.…”

“…In contrast to the families in this study who used a variety of coping skills, most families in the South African study 13 felt unable to cope with the stressful situation of taking an SP on leave. In the Finnish study, 12 the parents coped through avoidance, distraction, help seeking and religious coping. Coping strategies relied to a certain extent on the availability and strength of social support.…”

“… 11 Parents of forensic patients in Finland felt marginalised even though the patients relied heavily on them for support during re-entering the community. 12 Caregivers in a rural area in South Africa experienced stress when the SPs presented with non-compliance to treatment and behaviour problems. 13…”

“…Inadequate social support contributes to institutionalisation and hinders SPs’ community re-integration. In order to meet caregivers’ needs, mental healthcare professionals need to understand their views and challenges, 11 , 12 as well as the family strengths that enable them to cope. 10 To the authors’ knowledge, no studies have been conducted in the study context on the challenges experienced by families of SPs who are on leave.…”