@article{ref1,
title="Changing characteristics of forensic psychiatric patients in Ontario: a population-based study from 1987 to 2012",
journal="Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology",
year="2019",
author="Penney, Stephanie R. and Seto, Michael C. and Crocker, Anne G. and Nicholls, Tonia L. and Grimbos, Teresa and Darby, Padraig L. and Simpson, Alexander I. F.",
volume="54",
number="5",
pages="627-638",
abstract="PURPOSE: To quantify the demand for forensic psychiatric services in Ontario over the past 25 years and investigate whether the sociodemographic, clinical and offense-based characteristics of forensic patients have changed over time. <br><br>METHODS: We investigated all forensic admissions from 1987 to 2012 resulting in a disposition of Not Criminally Responsible on account of Mental Disorder (N = 2533). We present annual proportions of patients with specified sociodemographic, clinical and offense characteristics, and investigate whether the duration of forensic system tenure varies as a function of admission year, psychiatric diagnosis, or index offense. <br><br>RESULTS: There has been a steady increase in forensic admissions over this time period, particularly individuals with comorbid substance use disorders and individuals of non-Caucasian ethno-racial background. The proportion of persons committing severe violence has remained low and has decreased over time. Having a comorbid personality, neurological, or substance use disorder significantly increased forensic system tenure, as did committing a violent offense. Individuals who came into the system in earlier years had slower rates of discharge compared to more recent admissions. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Defining the trends characterizing the growth of the forensic population has important policy implications, as forensic services are costly and involve a significant loss of liberty. The current results indicate that young, substance abusing individuals of diverse ethno-racial backgrounds and who commit relatively low-level violence comprise an increasing proportion of Ontario's forensic population, and suggest that treatment must be optimized to best serve the needs of these individuals.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0933-7954",
doi="10.1007/s00127-018-1619-6",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00127-018-1619-6"
}