To be strategically struggling against resignation : The lived experience of being cared for in forensic psychiatric care

• To be referred to care in forensic psychiatric services can be seen as one of the most comprehensive encroachments society can impose upon a person's life, as it entails a limitation of the individual's freedom with no time limit. This study focuses upon patients' experiences of their life situation in forensic psychiatric wards. Using a Reflective Lifeworld Research approach founded in phenomenology, we analysed 11 qualitative interviews with patients cared for on a maximum security unit in a Swedish forensic psychiatric service. Results show how forensic psychiatric care can be non-caring with only moments of good care, from the patient's perspective. By using different strategies, the patients attempt to adapt to the demands of the caregivers in order to gain privileges. At the same time the patients are lacking meaningful and close relationships and long to get away from the system of forensic care. Being cared for entails struggling against an approaching overwhelming sense of resignation.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

adult

apathy

article

attitude to health

behavior

emotion

escape behavior

female

forensic psychiatry

health personnel attitude

human

legal aspect

long term care

male

mental disease

nurse patient relationship

nursing

patient satisfaction

prisoner

psychologic test

psychological aspect

punishment

qualitative research

quality of life

uncertainty

Attitude of Health Personnel

Commitment of Mentally Ill

Emotions

Escape Reaction

Humans

Interview

Psychological

Long-Term Care

Mental Disorders

Nurse-Patient Relations

Power (Psychology)

Prisoners

Young Adult

Vårdvetenskap

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)