Examining professionals' perspectives on sexuality for service users of a forensic psychiatry unit
Journal article
Dein, KE, Williams, PS, Volkonskaia, I, Kanyeredzi, A, Reavey, P and Leavey, G (2016). Examining professionals' perspectives on sexuality for service users of a forensic psychiatry unit. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry. 44, pp. 15-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2015.08.027
Authors | Dein, KE, Williams, PS, Volkonskaia, I, Kanyeredzi, A, Reavey, P and Leavey, G |
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Abstract | © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.Very little is known about the sexual activities of psychiatric patients during their stay in hospital and beyond. In this article, we have explored how mental health professionals working within a forensic psychiatric unit construct the issue of patient sexuality in order to ascertain the range of sexual possibilities open to patients. Drawing on interviews with twenty four participants - psychiatrists and clinical psychologists (clinical staff), we examined how participants made sense of patient sexuality and their clinical judgments in relation to them. Using a thematic analysis, we were able to identify a number of relevant themes emerging, including a) what the limits of acceptable sexual behaviour were judged to be, b) discrimination against transgender and same sex relationships, c) vulnerability among female patients and therapeutic efficacy, and d) an abject fear of patient pregnancy. Furthermore, a general concern throughout was the putative professional conflict between the clinical and ward staff. Further discussion regarding the potential for clearer policy on patient sexuality and further training for professionals is developed in the final section. |
Keywords | Humans; Risk; Attitude of Health Personnel; Sexual Behavior; Professional-Patient Relations; Decision Making; Mental Disorders; Forensic Psychiatry; Adult; Inpatients; Vulnerable Populations; Female; Male; Inpatient; Mental health; Restrictions; Risk; Sexuality; Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Decision Making; Female; Forensic Psychiatry; Humans; Inpatients; Male; Mental Disorders; Professional-Patient Relations; Risk; Sexual Behavior; Vulnerable Populations; 1801 Law; Criminology |
Year | 2016 |
Journal | International Journal of Law and Psychiatry |
Journal citation | 44, pp. 15-23 |
Publisher | Elsevier |
ISSN | 0160-2527 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2015.08.027 |
Publication dates | |
01 Jan 2016 | |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 13 Jun 2017 |
Accepted | 15 Nov 2015 |
Accepted author manuscript | License File Access Level Open |
https://openresearch.lsbu.ac.uk/item/87557
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Accepted author manuscript
Reavey Revisions Final Sept15.docx | ||
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 | ||
File access level: Open |
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