Evaluation of the perceptions among forensic patients on a sample of speakers working in structures of mental health

Objectives. - The evaluation of the perception of health professionals is necessary in view of the changing political care of forensic patients to ensure their integration in society and in the conventional care system. Stigma can have damaging consequences for the accompanying psychiatric and forensic patients for both patients and health professionals. This study is unique in French-speaking region and aims to study the perception of health professionals regarding the concept of danger/risk for these patients, specificity and intensity of monitoring, their responsiveness to patient care and finally the perception about stigmatization. Methods. - Two hundred health professionals practicing or not to forensic patients responded to an Internet questionnaire developed by us and covering all the domains mentioned above. The average age of respondents was 40.26 years (SD = 10.41, range: 20 to 87). The variable "type of institution" (institution welcoming exclusively forensic patients/institution doesn't welcoming exclusively forensic patients), "principal function" (psychological, medical and social service providers who are continually in contact with patients/managers and coordinators of psychological, medical and social services without direct contact with patients) and "sex" have been created in group comparisons. Results. - Overall, health professionals are likely to disagree if at all agree with the fact that forensic patients break more institutional rules, be more aggressive or violent, have more symptoms than non-medical patients legal. Half of health professionals perceive forensic patients as needing more intensive care with specific ways. Furthermore, less than 50 % consider it necessary to diversify the interventions, perceive as difficult to manage in the care unit, opposite of care and less receptive to care. For most health professionals, obligation of treatment is helpful. The majority of respondents perceive forensic patients stigmatized as compared to other patients. According to the variable "type of institution", health professionals working in a forensic institution consider that forensic patients are more stigmatized than no forensic patients. Moreover, they perceive them as requiring more specific ways, have more symptoms, less responsive to treatment, more break institutional rules and more violent and aggressive than no forensic patients. Being in contact or not with forensic patient not seem to change their perception. For cons, the results show a gender effect. Indeed, men perceive the obligation of treatment for forensic patients as being more useful and efficient compared to women. Then, the men think that forensic patients are more difficult to manage in the care unit, often violate the rules, are less receptive to treatment, oppose more often to care as compared to women. Finally, men perceive them as being more aggressive compared to no-forensic patients. Finally, the younger respondents perceive forensic patients as more stigmatized. (C) 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.