An assessment of patient need for family intervention in forensic services and staff skill in implementing family interventions

Family interventions result in clinical benefits in the treatment of schizophrenia. This report investigates (i) if forensic patients have a need for family intervention, (ii) if staff have the skills to deliver family intervention, and (iii) the availability of family intervention on forensic wards. The needs of 137 forensic patients and skills of 318 forensic staff were assessed. Patients showed considerable unmet need and relapses were common. Most forensic patients (72%) had regular contact with their relatives, of whom 56% were involved in the patient's discharge planning. Only 7% of staff felt that they were skilled in family interventions and less than half of these received clinical supervision in its application. Family interventions were infrequently available. The results indicate that the future development of family interventions in forensic services is worthwhile, as the need is apparent and is supported by regular family contact, but that it is currently rarely available. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.