Forensic mental health hospitals in the New and Old German Federal States: A comparison

摘要

Differences and similarities of the forensic mental health hospitals in the New Federal States (NFS) (former East Germany) and the Old Federal States (OFS) (former West Germany) were assessed. The focus of the study was set on institutional features of these hospitals as well as on characteristics of the detained patients. Data were based on a survey conducted in 2006. Specifically designed questionnaires were sent to the mental health departments of the State Ministries, and to all forensic mental health hospitals (response rates 100 and 62). The general finding is that structures of forensic mental health services in NFS and OFS, e.g. the number of beds per million inhabitants and institutional features, have become similar since the German reunification. The health staff patient relation is equal for some professions, whereas for other professions this relation is even better in NFS. Differences exist regarding the forensic mental health law of the Federal States. Moreover, the proportions of some delicts and diagnoses in the detained clientele differ. In NFS, the need for fo-rensic aftercare facilities is even more urgent than in OFS. In both parts of the country there is a need for the development of some aspects of quality assurance for both forensic mental health hospitals as well as governmental institutions. Generally, the evaluation of quality of structures, processes and results is yet impossible for many fields of forensic mental health care, because there is no sufficient data base.