Forensic Mental Health MSc

University of the West of Scotland

This module includes approaches to treatment and treatment models. The various treatments tend to have a different focus depending upon the lead discipline, for example the medical profession have a preference towards medication, nursing focussing more on behavioural and occupational therapists on social and occupational activities. There is of course an overlap across disciplines and cross?collaboration across many interventions. Over the past five years there has been a fairly radical change in the provision of a range of new psychological interventions, some of which are now just being formally evaluated. Some of the key interventions actively in use currently are highlighted.

The module critically explores the main types of mental disorder and their relationship to offending within the confines of mental health law, both civil and criminal. To understand the positive and the negative effects of homicide inquiries are important learning points. The role of psychiatric defenses and the available legislation and processes involved in mental health legislation for offenders, including psychiatric defenses are outlined. Students will also learn about legal defenses against criminal charges available on psychiatric grounds. The module also explores the roles of clinicians working within the legal system and equips people with the knowledge and skills to both write competent court reports and appear in court. Understanding the aims and composition of court reports is an important aspect of the process. The services available for forensic patients (and others requiring similar services) are described as part of this module.

This module is a significant component of the MSc programme and encourages the student to pursue under supervision a sustained programme of individual autonomous work.

The module will introduce students to a variety of assessment and risk management strategies to deal with problem behaviours in sexual offenders, violent offenders and personality disordered offenders. There is a further expectation that on completion of this module students will have developed the skills to identify key features of offenders and understand the complexity associated with the legal and ethical implications in practice.

Working with those who misuse drugs and alcohol can be a challenging task. Throughout this module, students will be given the opportunity to explore the pathology associated with substance misuse, allowing a deeper and critical understanding to be developed. Models of care will be explored, with support given to allow students to critically reflect on their organisations? practices and the influences behind this. It is expected that students will have an understanding of, or access to, local, national and international policies associated with substance misuse. Additionally, while social policies associated with offending and substance misuse are likely to be discussed, the primary focus of the module is not to examine and critique these in detail. Instead, the students will be encouraged to critically examine and reflect on the intrapersonal and interpersonal aspect of supporting a person who uses/misuses substances.

The students will require a comprehensive knowledge of and an ability to appraise the different approaches associated with risk assessment and risk management. There is a further expectation that on completion of this module students will have developed the skills to carry out various risk assessments under supervision, they will also be capable of employing a number of risk management strategies and be able to report these competently.