Abstract
The authors surveyed a sample of American forensic psychiatrists who work in state institutions. As a group, their respondents tended to be middle-aged, white men, who had little formal training in forensic psychiatry, felt somewhat alienated from their peers, yet who were Board certified in general psychiatry. They tended to be involved primarily in the direct treatment of patients, and most often expressed concerns about the care–and prominent lack of aftercare—received by forensic patients. They also perceived a sense of patient futility in the institutional forensic setting. The authors conclude by recommending that AAPL take a more active role in appealing to and representing such forensic psychiatrists.
Footnotes
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Dr. Maier is Chairperson and Dr. Harry is immediate past chairperson of the AAPL Committee on Institutional Forensic Psychiatry. Dr. Miller is immediate past chairperson of the Education Committee of AAPL. Dr. Harry is Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO. Dr. Maier is clinical director, and Dr. Miller is training director, both of the Forensic Center, Mendota Mental Health Institute. Dr. Maier is clinical assistant professor of psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, where Dr. Miller is associate clinical professor of psychiatry and lecturer in law. Dr. Miller is also associate clinical professor of psychiatry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. The authors thank all present and past members of the above committees for their help. They also give special thanks to Ms. Kathy Farlow, without whose efforts this project would have been impossible.
- Copyright © 1990, The American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
