title: Forensic psychiatry in Europe: The perspective of the Ghent Group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Ghent Group was established in 2004 as a forum for forensic psychiatrists from different countries in Europe in order to bridge the gaps in knowledge, experience, practice and care which exist between them due to their different legal traditions and constitutions in dealing with people having mental disorders who come into conflict with the law.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Ghent Group considers itself as a loosely organised think tank to which all interested and invited professionals can contribute without statutory restraints. Its aim is to facilitate communication with mentally disordered offenders appearing in court, to understand the procedures of our neighbouring countries and to find common ground between clinicians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The major focus of the Ghent Group is on teaching and training both at a national level, where one can learn about the methods of training from each other, and at a European level. The group of trainees from different countries experiment in seminars in solving medico-legal cases considering European Human Rights issues and their respective national procedures and institutions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This helps not only to understand the differences between the national medico-legal procedures but also to deepen the understanding of the principles and practice in one's own country.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für forensische Psychiatrie , München , Germany.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nedopil
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gunn
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry / Q000193:education / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans
keywords: Europe; Forensic psychiatry; mentally disordered offenders; teaching; training