Restricted patients in New Zealand: A failed social experiment with a hybrid form of civil/forensic compulsory mental health treatment

Every‐Palmer, Susanna; Dunn, Alice; Foulds, James; Reuvecamp, Iris; Dawson, John

doi:10.1016/j.ijlp.2021.101762

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The primary trauma was the index offense ( n = 10), childhood abuse ( n = 6), sexual assault in adulthood ( n = 3), physical assault in adulthood ( n = 3), and other ( n = 2). Eleven participants were under “forensic” orders such as being unfit to stand trial, not guilty by reason of insanity, or the NZ category of “restricted patient” (Every-Palmer et al, 2022).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy compared to usual treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder in adults with psychosis in forensic settings: Randomized controlled trial.

Every-Palmer,

Flewett,

Dean

et al. 2024

Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy compared to usual treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder in adults with psychosis in forensic settings: Randomized controlled trial.

Every-Palmer,

Flewett,

Dean

et al. 2024

Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

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“…Forensic mental health services in New Zealand work closely with the justice system to provide secure assessment, treatment and rehabilitation services for mentally ill offenders or alleged offenders. This includes but is not limited to people who have been made forensic ‘special patients’ and ‘restricted patients’ within the legislative framework of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 and the Criminal Procedure (Mentally Impaired Persons) Act 2003 (Every-Palmer et al, 2022 ; Ministry of Health, 2022 ). Forensic services also provide prison in-reach treatment to people in custody with severe mental illness.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in prison and forensic services: a qualitative study of lived experience

Every-Palmer,

Ross,

Flewett

et al. 2023

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common in people with serious mental illness who come into contact with the criminal justice system. Little evidence exists on EMDR treatment in forensic mental health, with no prior qualitative research exploring lived experience perspectives. Objective: This qualitative study recruited adult forensic mental health patients with PTSD and psychotic disorders, predominantly schizophrenia, who had received EMDR as part of a clinical trial, either in prison or in hospital. We sought to understand their experiences of EMDR therapy while receiving forensic care. Method: Ten in-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews were undertaken and analysed using thematic analysis. We used an inductive, realist approach, reporting the experiences, meanings, and reality of the participants. Results: Five overarching themes were identified. First, severe trauma was ubiquitous and participants felt Seriously Messed Up by their traumatic experiences, with debilitating and enduring PTSD symptoms contributing to offending and psychosis (‘giving the voices something to feed on’). Second, EMDR was regarded with Early Scepticism . Third, the therapy itself was initially emotionally taxing and Not Easy but participants generally felt safe and persevered. Fourth, they were often surprised and delighted by results ( And it Worked! ), describing significant symptom reduction and personal transformation. Lastly, EMDR Fits the Forensic Setting, bringing empowerment in a place perceived as disempowering. People reported changes that increased their hope in a violence-free future. Conclusions: The limited research on EMDR in forensic mental health is unfortunate given how common PTSD is in mentally unwell offenders and its potential to impede recovery and contribute to further offending. This first qualitative study found participants experienced positive transformative change, extending beyond symptom reduction. Themes support previously published quantitative outcomes showing EMDR to be safe and effective in this cohort. EMDR was well suited to a forensic setting and was seen as an empowering therapy. Trial registration: Study registration: The study was registered on the Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Network, registration number ACTRN12618000683235 (registered prospectively, 24 April 2018), https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id = 374682

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Restricted patients in New Zealand: A failed social experiment with a hybrid form of civil/forensic compulsory mental health treatment

Cited by 2 publications

References 14 publications

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy compared to usual treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder in adults with psychosis in forensic settings: Randomized controlled trial.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy compared to usual treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder in adults with psychosis in forensic settings: Randomized controlled trial.

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in prison and forensic services: a qualitative study of lived experience

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