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 Yakeley, Jessica A1 Adshead, Gwen 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.