Special women, special needs: a descriptive study of female Special Hospital patients

All 87 women patients who were detained in Broadmoor Hospital during the first 6 months of 1994 are described in terms of their demographic and offence characteristics, their behaviours prior to and during admission, their diagnostic categories and treatment needs. Histories of sexual victimization and physical abuse were present in a substantial number of the population. Acts of self-harm represented a more significant management problem (present in 94% of women) than aggression towards others. The most common behaviours leading to admission were assault (71.3%) and arson (47.1%), although 23% of the women had not been convicted of any offence. The findings are discussed with reference to the need to develop within secure settings psychotherapeutic approaches that reflect the complexity of these women's lives as well as the multiple levels of trauma most have experienced.