Profile of male forensic psychiatric inpatients in South India.
OBJECTIVE
The study explored the socio-demographic, clinical and legal profile of forensic psychiatric inpatients in an attempt to improve the existing mental health services for prisoners within the prison and in psychiatric hospitals.


METHODS
ology: A chart review of 135 forensic psychiatric inpatients admitted between January 2005 and December 2009 was done. A structured data-extraction tool was used for data collection and a descriptive approach for analyses.


RESULTS
Subjects were referred either directly from prison (62.2%) or from court (37.8%) for diagnosis, treatment or certification. References to the Mental Health Act 1987, charges and inclusion of first investigation report and behavioural observation report was lacking in most. The majority of prisoners (85.7%) were under trial, murder being the most common charge. Psychiatric diagnosis was made in 90.3%, the most common being psychosis. Substance use (nicotine, alcohol, cannabis) and high-risk behaviours were also common.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need to streamline the procedure of referral and to sensitize the referral authorities about the Mental Health Act and mental illnesses, and the need to enclose first investigation reports and behavioural observation reports. De-addiction services and facilities need to be established within prison premises so that the inmates get the benefit of treatment at the earliest opportunity.
1Department of Psychiatric Nursing, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India.
Dayachandra
D
Kumar
Biju
B
Viswanath
Ami
A
Sebestian
Bharath
B
Holla
Reddema
R
Konduru
Chanapatna Rajannachar
CR
Chandrashekar
Suresh Bada
SB
Math
D000328:Adult; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D007298:Insanity Defense; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008605:Mental Health Services; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult