Patient Profiles in Dutch Forensic Psychiatry Based on Risk Factors, Pathology, and Offense

Abstract

Forensic psychiatry embodies a highly heterogeneous population differing widely in terms of diagnoses, crimes committed, and risk factors. All of these are vitally important for treatment indications and should be accounted for in research. However, there is limited empirical knowledge of patient profiles. This study constructed patient profiles on the basis of the three domains mentioned above. Participants were found guilty of having committed crimes due to psychiatric disorders and were admitted to Forensic Psychiatric Center (FPC) 2landen or FPC De Kijvelanden in the Netherlands. Retrospective data were retrieved from patient files. Diagnoses were assessed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.; DSM-IV-TR) criteria and risk factors according to the Historical Clinical Future–30 (HKT-30) instrument. Latent class analysis was conducted to define typologies; external variables were included for validation. Four different classes or “patient risk profiles,” with varying psychopathologies, risk factors, and crimes, were identified. Results were consistent with previous studies, and external validation with the Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL-R) two-factor model and the four facets of the PCL-R agreed with results found. Results display specific risk factors for specific psychopathology/offense combinations.