2016-46: Quality of life (Call 2016-46)

Target group

Forensic psychiatric patients in the broad sense, both in outpatient and clinical contexts, including patients who are already in the process of resocialisation.

Relevant factors of quality of life for (ex) forensic psychiatric patients related to the risk of recidivism

Within forensic psychiatry, the focus is always on the safety objective, which means that attention to the quality of life of patients is often subordinate to risk assessment and risk management. The conscious implementation of quality of life aspects in forensic psychiatry is still in its infancy. By paying less attention to the quality of life, patients could miss out on opportunities to limit the risks of criminal or problem behaviour as much as possible. Understanding protective factors, including quality of life, can provide a more complete picture of patients' abilities, and could guide treatment and risk management. A higher quality of life can contribute to the therapeutic climate, the therapeutic relationship and the effect of the treatment. Factors that contribute to the quality of life also play an important role in achieving the safety objective in the resocialisation process and in shaping the patient's life outside the institution. Striving for an optimal quality of life is also in line with the responsiveness principle of the RNR model, as well as with the Good Lives model. This knowledge document, based on literature research and consultations with patients and their practitioners, provides recommendations to organisations, practitioners and supervisors for the improvement and monitoring of the QoL of forensic psychiatric patients. A document with all recommendations and guidelines summarised schematically is also available.

This product will be further developed in due course.

Executive party

Pompestichting, in cooperation with Inforsa and Transfore