Realist evaluation - forensic mental health
Research type
Research Study
Full title
International realist evaluation of models of care in forensic mental health systems: A protocol
IRAS ID
330566
Contact name
Lindsay Thomson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The State Hospital
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 22 days
Research summary
Forensic mental health systems assess and treat persons with a severe mental disorder who intersect with the justice system. The increase in demand for these services internationally are challenging the systems’ capacity to offer safe, appropriate and timely services. The capacity of systems to meet the needs of their service users and ensure public safety depends in part on their models of care – that is, the ways in which services should be delivered based on key values and goals. While some have speculated about what models of care may be most effective, there has been no proper evaluation to date. This is a barrier to the implementation of models that best provide efficient, patient-centered, integrated, and safe services.
This project seeks to fill this gap by answering two questions: (1) What is it about different models of care in forensic mental health systems that work, for whom, and in what circumstances? (2) What are the key components of an efficient, patient-centered, integrated, and safe forensic mental health system?
To answer these questions, we will visit Scotland, New Zealand, and Italy, three jurisdictions that have organized their forensic mental health services in radically different ways. Interviews with stakeholders and service users and administrative records will shed light on which features and contextual factors are critical in the implementation and continuous improvement of a forensic mental health system. Based on these findings, a Delphi process with international experts aimed at building a consensus around the key components of a forensic mental health system will be conducted.
This project aims to create contextualized knowledge that has been requested by knowledge users to better establish best practices in forensic mental health systems. Ultimately, it will promote the recovery of forensic mental health service users and ensure public safety.REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/0649
Date of REC Opinion
5 Oct 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion