Forensic psychotherapy

Forensic Psychotherapy is the application of psychological knowledge to the treatment of mentally disordered or mentally ill patients, sometimes as the result of a court order, who commit violent or destructive acts against others, though sometimes they might harm themselves also. Diagnoses of patients include Antisocial Personality Disorder (sometimes Borderline Type) and Schizophrenia/Psychotic Disorder. Psychological therapies used can include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Group Therapy and often Psychoanalytic Therapy, although a psychiatrist may also proscribe a medicine to control the psychosis or stabilize the patient with a personality disorder's mood.

The settings for therapy can range from high security hospitals to the community, and patients can suffer from personality disorder(s) or psychotic illness. The therapist may be involved in direct clinical work, or assessment, or the direction and education of other professionals and staff.

Psychodynamic therapy can shed light on a patient's unconscious impulses and conflicts, and primitive defense mechanisms, involved in his or her destructive actions and "acting out", and is orientated towards helping an offender develop self awareness, and an awareness of the nature of their deeds, and ultimately living a more adjusted life. However, it is generally accepted that psychodynamic psychotherapy has no effect as far as behavioral change for the antisocial personality or psychopathic offenders. These two types of offenders comprise the primary diagnostic group found in forensic psychotherapy work. Almost all forensic interventions utilize cognitive behavioral therapy, and many correctional settings do not allow psychodynamic therapy. Treatment of high risk offenders should only be conducted by those specifically trained in the application of such procedures, such as professional mental health counselors or licensed professional counselors.

References

* [http://apt.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/full/9/2/117 Contribution of forensic psychotherapy to the care of forensic patients - Gill McGauley and Martin Humphrey]
* [http://careerfocus.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/323/7316/S2-7316 Forensic psychotherapy - Gwen Adshead]