Agents and spectres: life-space on a medium secure forensic psychiatric unit

Reavey, P., Brown, S.D. ORCID: 0000-0001-7841-3225, Kanyeredzi, A., McGrath, L. and Tucker, I., 2019. Agents and spectres: life-space on a medium secure forensic psychiatric unit. Social Science and Medicine, 220, pp. 273-282. ISSN 0277-9536

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Abstract

Medium secure forensic psychiatric units are unique environments within the broader ‘post asylum’ landscape of mental health services. Length of stay is much greater, a recovery-focused care system is much more difficult to implement, and there is a paucity of suitable "step-down" services. The aim of this study was to examine how forensic psychiatric environments contribute to the shaping of recovery, by examining key features such as social interactions and agency. Here, we report on the findings from patients participating in a qualitative-visual study. This analysis forms part of larger study on staff and patient experiences of secure hospital space. In this paper, the analytical focus is directed towards two key elements of recovery - agency and relationality, using the concept of ‘topology’ and ‘life-space’, developed by the social psychologist Kurt Lewin. First, we explore how patients have relative freedom to move within institutional spaces, yet lack relational space. Secondly, we explore how life-space is expanded or compressed by the manner in which the patient's present life in hospital is connected or disconnected from their past or pending future. Finally, we discuss the implications of these findings for a recovery model within secure forensic settings, focused on personalisation and expanded life-space.

Item Type: Journal article
Publication Title: Social Science and Medicine
Creators: Reavey, P., Brown, S.D., Kanyeredzi, A., McGrath, L. and Tucker, I.
Publisher: Elsevier
Date: January 2019
Volume: 220
ISSN: 0277-9536
Identifiers:
NumberType
10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.11.012DOI
1207480Other
S0277953618306464Publisher Item Identifier
Divisions: Schools > Nottingham Business School
Record created by: Linda Sullivan
Date Added: 18 Nov 2019 11:56
Last Modified: 18 Nov 2019 11:56
URI: https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/38338

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