Above the law: escapes from a maximum security forensic hospital and psychopathy.

Abstract

This brief report is the second in a series of studies' examining characteristics of problematic forensic patient groups. In comparing hospitalized insanity acquittees and hospitalized insanity acquittees who successfully malingered, we found malingerers were more likely to be psychopathic. to have murdered or raped, and to carry a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) or sexual sadism.' They were also more likely to be verbally or physically assaultive, require specialized treatment plans to control their aggression, have sexual relations with female staff. deal drugs, and be considered an escape risk within the hospital setting.'. The impact on the hospital milieu was disproportionate to their numbers (N = 18), raising questions as to whether psychopathic forensic patients should ever be committed to a hospital setting.