Adjustment, Integration, and Quality of Life Among Forensic Patients Receiving Community Outreach Services

Abstract

To date, there is little information regarding the adjustment of forensic patients living in Canadian communities. The present study describes the extent of integration and quality of life among fifteen forensic patients on Disposition Orders specifying conditional discharge living in a small Ontario community. All the respondents were clients of the Forensic Outreach Service based at the Brockville Psychiatric Hospital. Measures administered in face-to-face interviews included quality of life, community Integration, self-esteem, coping, ratings of problem behaviors, and a client satisfaction questionnaire. Results suggest a fairly stable picture of life for the respondents. They report feeling a sense of belonging in their community and appear to be satisfied with the quality and frequency of their social contacts, in spite of limited social integration. The Forensic Outreach Service represents an advance toward providing services to forensic patients that are currently available to other persons with psychiatric disabilities living in Canadian communities.