Reduction of mechanical restraint in forensic psychiatry. - Patient and relatives’ perceptions and perspectives on mechanical restraint in forensic psychiatry

Background: In Denmark, the objective is to reduce coercion in psychiatric settings by 50 % in 2020. However, the number of prolonged episodes of mechanical restraint (MR) is currently increasing, especially among forensic psychiatric patients. Research suggests that involvement of patients and relatives contributes to reduction in coercion, including MR. However, research into forensic psychiatric patients and relatives’ perceptions of situations before, during and after MR episodes and their perspectives on what can help reduce use and duration of MR is very sparse.
Aim: To generate knowledge about what characterizes the meaning forensic psychiatric patients and relatives’ ascribe to perceptions of situations before, during and after MR episodes and to develop knowledge about what can reduce use and duration of MR.
Method: The project is carried out as a systematic literature review, qualitative semi-structured single interview with forensic psychiatric patients and qualitative semi-structured single and focus group interviews with relatives of forensic psychiatric patients. The investigation is epistemologically and methodologically informed by the assumptions of Symbolic Interactionism.
Anticipated Results: Increased knowledge about patients and relatives perceptions and perspectives on what can reduce use and duration of MR will contribute to the development of interventions with the aim of reducing MR.