Abstract
Objective: Psychiatric hospitals with designated catchment areas are responsible for inpatient forensic treatment. We aim to present descriptive data concerning the inpatient forensic treatment population, patient numbers in hospitals, and treatment lengths.
Method: As a part of the "Deinstitutionalization of Services for the Mentally Ill" project, regular data collection is performed, including collection of data on patients with a sentenced forensic treatment. Further data were obtained from the Central Register of Statistical Sheets and Reporting (CSLAV) kept by the Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic.
Results: The number of forensic patients at the end of the year 2020 was 839 (82 women and 757 men). There is a difference in patients' numbers in terms of 100,000 inhabitants of the catchment area, which varies between hospitals between 3 up to 24 patients.
The national average treatment length of inpatient forensic treatment is 2.6 years, but there are differences between hospitals, and the treatment length varies from several months up to six years. The highest number of patients in inpatient forensic treatment is from regions: Karlovy Vary, Ústí nad Labem and Moravian-Silesian region.
The diagnostic spectrum shows that the highest proportion of patients are diagnosed with psychotic disorders F2; (47%), 17% of patients are diagnosed with F62-F69 disorders, which also include paraphilic disorders, 16% have as the main diagnosis substance abuse; F10-F19. Conclusion: In an international comparison, patient numbers seem to be lower than in other European countries; the average treatment length also appears to be lower.
The data structure from regular censuses has certain limitations as they do not allow a more detailed description of the population regarding risk for the society or the conduct committed.