Patient Experiences of Victimization during Mandatory Psychiatric Treatment: A Qualitative Study

Forensic psychiatric inpatients are frequently exposed to aggression from fellow patients during their treatment, but research on how this impacts patients’ well-being and treatment progress is lacking. In study, we interviewed nine experiences of victimization mandatory treatment. The interviews were analyzed using a Grounded Theory approach combined with elements Consensual Qualitative Research Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Three main themes emerged the data, namely situational descriptives, intrapersonal interpersonal consequences. Patients not only both physical violence verbal by other patients, also more ubiquitous flow micro-aggressive comments. Options escape these situations limited. This means that processes, which for most started much earlier in life, continue forensic Intrapersonal consequences include fear, hypervigilance, reactive aggression, flashbacks avoidance withdrawal. Interpersonal increased power differences between adverse consequences, such as difficulties self-esteem. Victimization processes always timely noticed an environment focuses risks delinquent behavior. A higher level trauma sensitivity mental health care thus required. Recommendations implementation informed provided.