How credible are the reports from ex-patients in forensic psychiatric commitment on the posttreatment course?

摘要

This article presents the results of the posttreatment course of ex-patients in forensic commitment. The various data sources are compared with respect to the main focal points. In the Regensburg study design the main attention is focused on the reports of ex-patients themselves because this has some advantages, especially with respect to a high number of those willing to participate. The results were compared with the data obtained from third party observers, mostly probation officials and with entries from the Federal central register (BZR). The results show generally a good agreement which, however, seems to be particularly associated with the quality of the therapeutic relationship. Ex-patients admitted under 64 (addictive patients) whose treatment was discontinued showed the lowest agreement by far whereas the agreement was much higher for successfully treated patients admitted under 63 (mentally ill) and 64. In total it can be assumed that certain conditions a survey of the patients themselves delivers completely reliable results under and on the other hand that BZR entries do not per se have a higher element of truth.