Psychiatry is defined as the
study and treatment of mental illness, emotional disturbance, and abnormal
behaviour. Psychiatry is a medical specialty, and so psychiatrists need to be
medically trained to perform this type of medicine. This is the main difference
between psychiatry and psychology; which can be defined as the study of
behaviour and the mind, and can be thought of more as a social science.
Forensic psychiatry is a specialised branch of psychiatry which deals with the
assessment and treatment of mentally ill offenders in prisons, secure hospitals
and the community. It is a particular aspect of psychiatry which I find
interesting as it has extreme consequences in terms of the threat posed to society.
Forensic psychiatrists provide
psychiatric treatment in a secure environment or where patients are subject to
legal restrictions- meaning that the doctor needs an in-depth understanding of
criminal, civil and case law as it relates to patient care in these settings. Treatment
areas can vary from high security rural prisons to community centres. Referrals
can range from those who have committed minor offences to serious and violent
offenders, and for this reason the day of a forensic psychiatrist is never the
monotonous. Forensic psychiatrists may also assess non-offenders displaying
high-risk behaviour. Forensic psychiatrists also provide specialist advice to courts,
probation services, and the prison service. They also prepare reports for
mental health review tribunals, hospital managers’ hearings, other
practitioners and criminal justice agencies.
Expert opinions given to court:
- · defendant’s fitness to plead and fitness to stand trial
- · capacity to form an intent
- · advice to the courts on the available psychiatric defences
- · appropriateness of a mental health disposal at the time of sentencing
- · nature of a particular mental disorder and link to future risks
- · prognosis and availability of “appropriate treatment”
- · level of security required to treat a patient and manage risk
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