RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Locks, Keys, and Security of Mind: Psychodynamic Approaches to Forensic Psychiatry
JF Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online
JO J Am Acad Psychiatry Law
FD American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
SP 38
OP 45
VO 41
IS 1
A1 Jessica Yakeley
A1 Gwen Adshead
YR 2013
UL http://jaapl.org/content/41/1/38.abstract
AB In this article, we discuss psychological approaches to the understanding of acts of violence and, specifically, psychodynamic approaches to both formulation and treatment. We suggest that the key theoretical paradigm of a psychodynamic approach involves the exploration and elaboration of the meaning of a violent act for the offender and describe the relevance of this approach for both legal assessments and clinical services in secure residential care. We argue that a psychodynamic approach can improve the quality of assessments of both psychopathology and risk and inform effective therapeutic interventions in hard-to-treat patients.