Treatment effects in clients of the Forensic Psychiatric Clinic in Assen

The patients who are admitted to the Forensic Psychiatric Clinic (FPK) in Assen
are convicted of a crime or are at risk of committing a crime. The patients are
admitted to the clinic for assessment, intervention during a crisis, Pro
Justitia reports or treatment. The aim of the treatment at the FPK Assen is to
reduce the symptomes of the mental disorder of the patient to the standards of
today's treatment possibilities.

The FPK requested the Research Department of the Division Forensic Psychiatry
of the GGZ-Drenthe to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment programme offered
to the patients with objective and standardised instruments and methods and to
investigate the stability of the treatment effects after release from the
clinic.

To investigate the efficacy of the treatment at the FPK we selected
questionnaires and assesment instruments which will be completed by the
patients and therapists 6 weeks after admission, then once a year and shortly
before release. During the follow-up part of this study patients will complete
the questionnaires and will be interviewed every second year for at least 6
years after release.

The primary objective of this study is to examine the efficacy of the
treatments at the FPK in Assen.

Every patient who will be admitted for treatment to the clinic after the start
of this investigation will be asked to participate in this study. 6 Weeks after
the intake, an interview will take place, 10ml blood will be taken once only
and the patient and therapist will fill out some questionnaires. Every year
after the admission to the clinic a measurement/assesment point will take place
in the form of a Routine Outcome Assesment (ROA). With ROA systematic feedback
is given of information concerning the mental status of the patient and his/her
developments (Mulder et al, 2004; Wiersma et al, 2005). This information will
be measured with standardised and suitable instruments for the clinical
practise. Some of these instruments will be completed by the therapists and
some by the patients around the same time.
After the patient has left the clinic every 2 years a follow-up measurement
will take place. The follow-up assessment consists of an interview with the
patient by the research employees of the FPK together with a former
sociotherapist of the patient. In additon to the interview the patient will
fill out the same questionnaires as in the clinic. Also a familymember or
acquaintance of the patient will be approached in order to get information
concerning the patients functioning.

No medication, medical instruments or psychosocial interventions are involved
in this study.

Mulder CL, Staring ABP, Loos J, Buwalda VJA, Kuijpers D, Sytema S, Wierdsma AI.
De Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) als instrument van routine
outcome assessment. Tijdschr Psychiatrie 2004; 46: 273-84.

Wiersma D, Sytema S. Routine Outcome Assessment (ROA) and Management in de
Geestelijke Gezondheidszorg. In: A. Schene, F. Boer, T.J. Heeren, J.P.C.
Jaspers, B. Sabbe, J. van Weeghel, B. Sabbe (red) Jaarboek Psychiatrie en
Psychotherapie, Bohn Stafleu van Lochum, Houten, 2005, 305-17.

not applicable