Annual Report 2004-2005 - Forensicare

Research
Strategic objectives
• Undertake and publish high quality,
relevant and timely research.
• Improve delivery and advance
knowledge of specialist forensic mental
health services.
Challenges
• Ensure that research contributes
to clinical practice.
• Successfully access research grants
and funding.
How we plan to succeed in 2005-2006
Under the auspice of the Research
Committee, undertake research on –
• the effectiveness and impact of the
Crimes (Mental Impairment and
Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997
PROFILE
Forensicare has a sound research base
and a strong commitment to supporting
research throughout the organisation. The
research program ensures that high quality
research is undertaken to better inform
clinical practice in the provision of public
mental health services. Forensicare is also
committed to disseminating research
findings to area mental health services and
other stakeholders. Responsibility for the
research program rests with the Clinical
Director, and all research projects are
approved by the Research Committee,
a sub-committee of the Council. All staff
are encouraged to participate in the
research program, and during 2004-2005
10% of Forensicare’s clinical staff were
actively involved in research projects.
KEY OUTCOMES
ANNUAL RESEARCH REPORT
Full details of Forensicare’s research
program in 2004-2005, including featured
published research, are provided in a
separate publication, the Annual Research
Report to Council. Copies of the Research
Report are available from the Chief
Executive Officer (Locked Bag 10, Fairfield,
3078, or tel 9495 9143) or from the
website – www.forensicare.vic.gov.au
• risk management and risk management
tools
• stalkers and their victims
• problem gambling
• threats to kill
• sex offending, including the use
of child internet pornography
• the role of nursing in improving mental
health outcomes and evidence based
psychiatric nursing practice
• substance abuse and mental illness
• inpatient aggression
OUTCOMES OF RESEARCH CONDUCTED - DEVELOPMENTS IN CLINICAL
PRACTICE
RESEARCH CONDUCTED
The epidemiology and phenomenology
of uttering threats to harm others
Evaluation of cognitive behavioural therapy
with forensic patients.
DEVELOPMENTS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE
The ongoing development of the Problem
Behaviour Program is guided by this
research.
Alongside the establishment of a specialist
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Psychosis
Clinic at the Thomas Embling Hospital,
research is being conducted on the process
and outcome of this treatment within the
population of mentally disordered offenders.
• cognitive behaviour therapy with
forensic patients
• prevalence of offenders with a mental
illness re-entering prison in the context
of a relapse of their mental illness
• violence on the roads.
Further pursue fee-for-service consultancies
and develop a grant application capability
to assist in underwriting our research and
professional education programs.
Research into inpatient aggression
The systematic assessment of stalkers
Substance use and personality
characteristics of forensic outpatients
with a mental illness.
Findings from these research projects
inform the Consolidating and Strengthening
Clinical Programs project.
As part of the research all clinical
documentation has been reviewed and
recommendations made for enhancement
where required.
Results from this study have important
implications for clinicians planning
treatment interventions for stalkers and
have been adopted by the Problem
Behaviour Program.
Findings from this study have provided
information on patients with dual diagnosis
at risk of reoffending and the issues that
need to be addressed in treatment programs.
29