Original Research

Forensic state patients at Sterkfontein Hospital: A 3-year follow-up study

Belinda Marais, Ugashvaree Subramaney
South African Journal of Psychiatry | Vol 21, No 3 | a708 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v21i3.708 | © 2015 Belinda Marais, Ugashvaree Subramaney | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 23 October 2014 | Published: 01 August 2015

About the author(s)

Belinda Marais, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Ugashvaree Subramaney, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

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Abstract

Background. State patients are individuals who have been charged with offences involving serious violence and who have been declared unfit to stand trial and/or who are not criminally responsible because of their mental illness or defect. They are referred by the courts for treatment, rehabilitation and indefinite detention at a forensic psychiatric facility. However, many of these state patients may ultimately be released back into the community. As these individuals may be considered a high-risk group, their rates of relapse and recidivism are of importance. There is a paucity of South African literature on the long-term outcome of state patients. 

Objective. To describe the profile of state patients, and to examine their outcomes after 3 years, including recidivism rates. 

Methods. A descriptive, retrospective study of the clinical records of 114 state patients admitted to Sterkfontein Hospital in 2004 and 2005 was conducted, and their profile and 3-year outcomes were determined.

Results. The majority of state patients were male, single, unemployed, had a past psychiatric history (59%), and substance abuse history (71%). A third reported a past criminal history. The most common offences were assault with the intention to do grievous bodily harm (19%), rape (18%) and murder (13%). Psychotic disorders represented the most common diagnostic category (69%), with schizophrenia being the most frequent diagnosis (44%). Most state patients had been found unfit to stand trial (96%) and not criminally responsible (89%). At the end of the 3-year follow-up, the majority were in the community (69%), of whom most (72%) were out on leave of absence (LOA), while a quarter had absconded and a minority were reclassified (3%). Most absconders (83%) were state patients who had not returned from LOA. The recidivism rate was 4%. 

Conclusion. Most state patients were out in the community at the end of the 3-year period. The following recommendations are suggested: improved community psychiatric services, especially for those diagnosed with psychotic disorders and mental retardation, with a focus on improving treatment adherence and early detection of treatment defaulters; improved substance abuse rehabilitation programmes and community facilities, as well as strengthening of systems that manage absconders.


Keywords

Forensics; state patients; recidivism; conditional discharge; reclassification; abscondment

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Crossref Citations

1. Social determinants of health in male forensic patients admitted at a tertiary psychiatric hospital in South Africa
Keabetswe Mogase, Tshepiso Moeketsi, Funeka B Sokudela
International Journal of Social Psychiatry  vol: 68  issue: 8  first page: 1806  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1177/00207640211060261