title: First report from the Swedish National Forensic Psychiatric Register (SNFPR).
abstract: To the best of our knowledge, the present register is the only nationwide forensic psychiatric patient register in the world. The aim of this article is to describe the content of the Swedish National Forensic Psychiatric Register (SNFPR) for Swedish forensic patients for the year 2010. The subjects are individuals who, in connection with prosecution due to criminal acts, have been sentenced to compulsory forensic psychiatric treatment in Sweden. The results show that in 2010, 1476 Swedish forensic patients were assessed in the SNFPR; 1251 (85%) were males and 225 (15%) were females. Almost 60% of the patients had a diagnosis of schizophrenia, with a significantly higher frequency among males than females. As many as 70% of the patients had a previous history of outpatient psychiatric treatment before becoming a forensic psychiatric patient, with a mean age at first contact with psychiatric care of about 20 years old for both sexes. More than 63% of the patients had a history of addiction, with a higher proportion of males than females. Furthermore, as many as 38% of all patients committed crimes while under the influence of alcohol and/or illicit drugs. This was more often the case for men than for women. Both male and female patients were primarily sentenced for crimes related to life and death (e.g., murder, assault). However, there were more females than males in treatment for general dangerous crimes (e.g., arson), whereas men were more often prosecuted for crimes related to sex. In 2010, as many as 70% of all forensic patients in Sweden had a prior sentence for a criminal act, and males were prosecuted significantly more often than females. The most commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals for both genders were antipsychotics, although more women than men were prescribed other pharmaceuticals, such as antidepressants, antiepileptics, and anxiolytics. The result from the present study might give clinicians an opportunity to reflect upon and challenge their traditional treatment methods.
authors.affiliation: CELAM (Center for Ethics, Law and Mental Health), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Forensic Psychiatric Clinic, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: alessio.deglinnocenti@vgregion.se.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Degl' Innocenti
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Linda B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Hassing
authors.affiliation: Forensic Psychiatric Clinic, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ann-Sophie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lindqvist
authors.affiliation: Forensic Psychiatric Clinic, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.affiliation: Forensic Psychiatric Clinic, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.affiliation: Forensic Psychiatric Clinic, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Frances Hagelbäck
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.affiliation: Forensic Psychiatric Clinic, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.affiliation: CELAM (Center for Ethics, Law and Mental Health), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: Forensic Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Sweden.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hofvander
authors.affiliation: CELAM (Center for Ethics, Law and Mental Health), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Anckarsäter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003415:Crime / Q000145:classification; D057237:Criminals / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents
keywords: Forensic; Psychiatric; Register; SNFPR; Swedish