The required readings for this unit are:

Australia	Required Reading(s)

New Zealand Brinded, P. M. J., Simpson, A. I. F., Laidlaw, T. M., Fairley, N. & Malcolm, F. (1999). Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in New Zealand prisons: A national study. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 35(2), 166-173. Retrieved December 12, 2002, Academic Search Premier database: http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=4591236&db=aph Note: The paper describes the methodologies and results obtained on a large cohort of prison inmates in New Zealand who were screened for psychiatric disorder.

 

Canada	Required Reading(s)

Insert article here

• Note in this article

International	Required Reading(s)

Fioritti, A.., Melega, V., Ferriani, E., Rucci, P., Scaramelli, A. R., Venco, C., & Santarini, F. (2001). Crime and mental illness: An investigation of three Italian forensic hospitals. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, 12(1), 36-51. Retrieved December 20, 2002, from the Academic Search Premier datbase: http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=4422987&db=aph Maximum-security forensic hospitals, or Ospedali Psichiatrici Giudiziari (OPGs), are the only facilities in Italy providing care and custody for mentally ill offenders. This article aims to describe clinical, criminological and psychosocial features of their population. The method was an assessment of 118 patients admitted to three forensic hospitals and a matched control group from community non-forensic services. Of the subjects, 72% had a diagnosis of non-affective psychosis, and 75.2% had committed serious crimes against other people; 54% of these crimes were homicide or attempted homicide. At the time of committing the index crime, 60% were being treated by a community service, and 68.9% had been compulsorily admitted previously. OPG inmates more frequently had a history of substance abuse, had committed more crimes and had lower social disability than controls. The needs and problems of this population seem quite specific and often fall beyond the scope of ordinary psychiatric services. The project was funded by the Regione EmiliaRomagna and by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità

 

United Kingdom	Required Reading(s)

Melia, P., Moran, T. & Mason, T. (1999). Triumvirate nursing for personality disordered patients: Crossing the boundaries safely. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 6, 15-20. (from Proquest database).

• Note the definition of triumvirate nursing.

United States	Required Reading(s)

Broughton, N. & Chesterman, P. (2001). Malingered psychosis. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, 12(2), 407-422. Retrieved December 20, 2002, from Academic Search Premier: http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=5180675&db=aph The diagnosis of mental illness is heavily reliant on both the honesty and the accuracy of patient statements. Traditionally the veracity of such statements has been assumed; however, particularly in the forensic field, such an assumption may often prove to be naive. The case-example that follows concerns a man convicted of indecently assaulting a teenage boy. He presented to forensic services with a variety of psychotic symptoms, which were subsequently proven to be feigned. The case exemplifies certain typical features of malingered psychosis as described in the American literature; however, it is also unusual in a number of ways. It serves to demonstrate that the careful assessment of possible malingering is a fundamental issue for all psychiatrists, especially where the therapeutic alliance may be complicated by external sociolegal issues which could possibly serve as motivation for the fabrication of psychopathology Watson, J. P. (2002). The differences in perceived burdens between forensic and non-forensic caregivers of individuals suffering from schizophrenia. Journal of Mental Health, 11(4), 375-388. Retrieved December 12, 2002, from Academic Search Premier databse: http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=7210290&db=aph This paper examines the burdens experienced by caregivers of people with schizophrenia. In-depth interviews were undertaken with 107 caregivers (79 caregivers of clients with a forensic history and 28 caring for non-offenders) and categorised into burden dimensions using content analysis. The severity of the burdens faced was also recorded. The types of burden experienced by the two groups were examined using chi squared and t-tests. Results indicated that the two groups described a similar number of burdens. However, the forensic caregivers were more likely to describe burdens relating to violent incidents and annoyance, particularly towards services. In addition, they were more likely to document more severe burdens. The main burdens described are discussed and recommendations are made for the ways in which health professionals could assist caregivers in dealing with the burdens they face.

 

Databases
For the full text article online, sleuth the 'University of Calgary/ Library/ Article Indexes':

Directions:

• Select - Indexes and abstracts with links to full text articles
• Select - Academic Search Premier or Expanded Academic ASAP
• Select - Connect
• Fill in User ID and Pin
• Fill in search words: mentally ill and offender

 

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The 'recommended only' readings for this unit are the following:

Australia	Recommended Reading(s)

Insert article/book/chapter here

• This reading notes

Canada	Recommended Reading(s)

Arboleda-Florez, J., Holley, H. & Crisante, A. (1998). Mental illness and violence. International Medical Journal, 5 (1), 3-8.

• Note this study commissioned by the Mental Health Division of Health Canada to determine if mental illness causes violence.

International	Recommended Reading(s)

Netherlands Koeter, Ch. M. W. J. (2002). Quality of life in forensic psychiatry: An unreclaimed territory? International Review of Psychiatry, 14(3), 198-202. Retrieved December 12, 2002, from Academic Search Premier database: http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=6998196&db=aph This article focuses on the role of the quality of life concept in forensic psychiatry and the aim is to find out whether quality of life is regarded as an important outcome measure in this subspecialty of psychiatry. To this end, a brief description is given of how the quality of life-concept is dealt with in general psychiatry and what the status of the 'quality of life' concept is in the forensic psychiatric field. One of the major conclusions is that the operationalization and measurement of quality of life in forensic psychiatry is still in its infancy: there are only a couple of publications pertaining to theoretical and/or empirical issues of quality of life for mentally disordered offenders. Therefore, much can be gained from the experience and knowledge in general psychiatry and medicine.

 

United Kingdom	Recommended Reading(s)

Gukhool, D. (2001). Forensic Nursing and Multidisciplinary Care of the Mentally Disordered Offender. (book review)Journal of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, 8(4), 376-377. Retrieved December 12, 2002, from Academic Search Premier database: http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=4862216&db=aph Reviews the book 'Forensic Nursing and Multidisciplinary Care of the Mentally Disordered Offender,' by David Robinson and Alyson Kettles. Moran, T. & Mason, T. (1996). Revisiting the nursing management of the psychopath. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 3, 189-194. Note this paper contributes a theoretical foundation to the practicalities of nursing this particularly difficult patient group, based on clinical experience, and offers a nursing perspective to the complexity of the debate (Moran & Mason, 1996, p. 189). Norman, I., & Clarke, L. (1998). Forensic psychiatry for health professionals working with the mentally disordered offender. Journal of Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing, 5(3), 241- 243. Retrieved December 20, 2002, from Academic Search Premier database: http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=5730535&db=aph Reviews books on psychiatric and mental health nursing. 'Forensic Psychiatry for Health Professionals,' by Chris Lloyd; 'Working with the Mentally Disordered Offender in the Community,' by Philip J. Vaughan and Douglas Badger.

 

United States	Recommended Reading(s)

Insert article/book/chapter here

• This reading notes

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Additional references for this unit can be found in 'forensic references' of the forensic sourcebooks.

• Sleuth 'forensic reference' database for:

  Mentally ill - offender

Kent-Wilkinson, A. (2002). Forensic Sourcebooks: Forensic References.

Retrieved May 28, 2002, from the Forensic Education Website: http://www.forensiceducation.com/sourcebooks/experts/Experts_database.html/refs

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Video's recommended for this unit are:

	Resources (Video)

Recommended Only

Arboleda-Florez, J., Crisanti, A. & Holley, H. (1996).Video & Manual 'The police officer as a primary mental health resource' [90 minutes] Prepared under The Auspices of the Pan-American Health Organization, by the Department of Psychiatry, Peter Lougheed Centre, Calgary Regional Health Authority, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health.

• Note in the first section an overview is provided on the impact of mental conditions, their extent and costs as well as a general introduction to syndromes, diagnosis and symptoms of most frequent mental disorders.
• The second section applies the knowledge that was gained in the first section to assess vignettes of police-citizen encounters.
• Finally, the third section deals with general issues of stress and other factors that could cause individuals, citizens and police officers to react in an unusual manner to stressful situations at work or in their private lives (Arboleda-Florez, Crisanti, & Holley, 1996, p. 67).

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The required websites to sleuth for this unit are the following:

Australia	Resources (Web)

Mullen, P. E. (2000). Mental Health and Criminal Justice: A Review of the Relationship between Mental Disorders and Offending Behaviours and on the Management of Mentally Abnormal Offenders in the Health and Criminal Justice Services. Criminology Research Council. Retrieved June 14, 2002 from http://www.aic.gov.au/crc/reports/mullen.html

• Note this report written by a professor of forensic psychiatry at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health, Victoria, Australia.

Office of the Public Advocate (2000) Mental Health Act 1993- Introduction, South Australia. Retrieved June 18, 2002 from: http://www.opa.sa.gov.au/d3ia.htm.

• The Mental Health Act 1993, in South Australia defines mental illness as 'any illness or disorder of the mind' (Office of the Public Advocate, 2000).
• Note The Act provides for the treatment and protection of persons who have a mental illness.
• Note in South Australia the Mental Health Act 1993 was assented to on 27 May 1993 and came into operation on 6 March 1995.

Office of the Public Advocate, South Australia.(2002) Retrieved June 24, 2002 from: http://www.opa.sa.gov.au/index.htm

• Note - Consent to medical and dental treatment for persons with reduced mental capacity.

New South Wales Consolidated Acts. (2000, April). Mental Health Act 1990, NSW Consolidated Acts. Retrieved June 17, 2002, from: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/mha1990128/

• Note the New South Wales, Mental Health Act of 1990, specifically Part 2 Review of Forensic Patients and Part 3 Provision for Forensic Patients.

Canada	Resources (Web)

Alberta - Government of Alberta. (2002). Mental Health Act. Alberta Statutes and Regulations. Queens Printer. Retrieved July 5, 2002 from: http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/Documents/REGS/1989_309.CFM

• Note the Mental Act of Alberta came into force Regulation, except section 4(2), comes into force on January 1, 1990.
• Note the Designation of Services, specifically Forensic services under the Act.

Alberta Heath and Wellness. (2002). Alberta Key Initiatives - Health Information Act. Alberta Health and Wellness Retrieved July 5, 2002 from: http://www.health.gov.ab.ca/key/keyhipa.htm

• The new Health Information Act was passed on December 8, 1999 in the Alberta Legislature. This legislation will ensure that the rules about the collection, use and sharing of health information are clear to all Albertans.
• The new Act is designed to build on the way that the health system works today but will make certain that there are adequate safeguards in place. Custodians, who are the people responsible for maintaining and protecting health information, will explain to individuals why certain information is being collected. People will be asked to give their consent before their health information can be disclosed for certain purposes.

Alberta -Government of Alberta. (2002). Health Information Act. Queens Printer. Retrieved July 5, 2002 from http://www.qp.gov.ab.ca/Documents/acts/H05.CFM

• Note that the Alberta Health Information Act was proclaimed in force on April 25, 2001.

Arboleda, J. & Holley, H. & Crisante, A. (1996). Mentally Illness and violence: Proof or stereotype? Calgary World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Mental Health, For Health Promotion and Programs Branch, Health Canada. Retrieved July 2, 2002 from
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hppb/mentalhealth/pubs/mental_illness/

• Note this study commissioned by the Mental Health Division of Health Canada to determine if mental illness causes violence.

Long, P.W. (1995-2002). Internet Mental Health. Retrieved July 5, 2002 from: http://www.mentalhealth.com/toc.html

• Note that this website is a free encyclopedia of mental health information. Their hope is that Internet Mental Health will promote improved understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness throughout the world.
• Note the link to 52 most common mental disorders including: description, diagnosis, treatment, and research findings.
• Note the link to 67 most common psychiatric drugs including: indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse effects, overdose, dosage, and research findings.
• Note that this site does not accept take funding from corporate sponsors and why.

International	Resources (Web)

Insert website here

• Note in this website

Switzerland	Resources (Web)

Sartorius, N. (2002, June 22). Iatrogenic stigma of mental illness [Editorial] Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, BMJ, 324, 1470- 1471. Retrieved June 24, 2002 from: http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/324/7352/1470.

• Note the British Medical Journal is an excellent online journal.
  

United Kingdom	Resources (Web)

Department of Health (1999) Reform of the Mental Health Act 1983 Proposals for Consultation. Department of Health United Kingdom. Retrieved June 17, 2002 http://www.doh.gov.uk/mentalhealth.htm.

• Note the Mental Health Act of 1983 is being reviewed for reform.

Home Office. (2002) Draft Mental Health Bill. Department of Health http://www.doh.gov.uk/mentalhealth/draftbill2002/index.htm.

• Note that the Government's proposed reforms to the 1983 Mental Health Act have now been issued and consultation is open until 16 September.

Walton, M. (2002). Mental Health Laws, Mental Health and Related Matters Retrieved June 17, 2002 from: http://www.markwalton.net/.

• Note the link to the Mental Health Act online from this site.

United States	Resources (Web)

Surgeon General Report on Mental Health. (1999, Dec 14). Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General by David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D. Retrieved June 14, 2002 form http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/

• Note this comprehensive new report on Mental Illness in America

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For additional websites on this unit, sleuth 'forensic websites' in the forensic sourcebooks.

• Mentally ill offender

Kent-Wilkinson, A. (2002). Forensic Sourcebooks: Forensic Websites.

Retrieved May 28, 2002, from the Forensic Education Website: http://www.forensiceducation.com/sourcebooks/experts/Experts_database.html/websites

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