Impact of homicide by a psychiatric patient on forensic psychiatrists: national survey.

ABSTRACT:

Aims and method

To explore the experiences and support needs of consultant forensic psychiatrists, whose patients had committed homicide while under their care. We circulated a survey to all forensic psychiatrists in the UK, through the Royal College of Psychiatrists, asking about their experiences of a homicide by a patient under their care. Respondents were invited to discuss their experiences further in a structured telephone interview and themes were identified from these discussions. Data were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively.

Results

One-third of the 86 respondents had had at least one patient who had committed a homicide while under their care. Of these, over three-quarters (78%) reported that the homicide had a significant impact on their personal life, prof

SUBMITTER: Mezey G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9059313 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature