title: Examining professionals' perspectives on sexuality for service users of a forensic psychiatry unit.
abstract: Very little is known about the sexual activities of psychiatric patients during their stay in hospital and beyond. In this article, we have explored how mental health professionals working within a forensic psychiatric unit construct the issue of patient sexuality in order to ascertain the range of sexual possibilities open to patients. Drawing on interviews with twenty four participants--psychiatrists and clinical psychologists (clinical staff), we examined how participants made sense of patient sexuality and their clinical judgments in relation to them. Using a thematic analysis, we were able to identify a number of relevant themes emerging, including a) what the limits of acceptable sexual behaviour were judged to be, b) discrimination against transgender and same sex relationships, c) vulnerability among female patients and therapeutic efficacy, and d) an abject fear of patient pregnancy. Furthermore, a general concern throughout was the putative professional conflict between the clinical and ward staff. Further discussion regarding the potential for clearer policy on patient sexuality and further training for professionals is developed in the final section.
authors.affiliation: North London Forensic Service, Chase Farm Hospital, The Ridgeway, Enfield, Middlesex, EN2 8JL, United Kngdom.
authors.forename: Kalpana Elizabeth
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Dein
authors.affiliation: North London Forensic Service, Chase Farm Hospital, The Ridgeway, Enfield, Middlesex, EN2 8JL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paul Simon
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Brockfield Regional Secure Unit, Basildon, Essex, SS11 7XX, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Volkonskaia
authors.affiliation: Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit, London Metropolitan University, Ladbroke House, 62-66 Highbury Grove, London, N5 2AD, United Kingdom. Electronic address: a.kanyeredzi@londonmet.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ava
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanyeredzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 OAA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: reaveyp@lsbu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reavey
authors.affiliation: Compass Centre for Mental Health Research and Policy, Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health, 80 University Street, Belfast, BT7 1HE, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leavey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012306:Risk; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
keywords: Inpatient; Mental health; Restrictions; Risk; Sexuality