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What characterizes a good mental health professional in court-mandated treatment settings?: Findings from a qualitative study with older patients and mental health care professionals

Seaward, Helene and Wangmo, Tenzin and Vogel, Tobias and Graf, Marc and Egli-Alge, Monika and Liebrenz, Michael and Elger, Bernice S.. (2021) What characterizes a good mental health professional in court-mandated treatment settings?: Findings from a qualitative study with older patients and mental health care professionals. BMC psychology, 9 (1). p. 121.

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Official URL: https://edoc.unibas.ch/85143/

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Abstract

Therapist-related activities and characteristics such as empathy and genuineness are factors that significantly contribute to psychotherapy outcome. As they play a role in psychotherapy more generally, it can be expected that they are equally important in the treatment of court-mandated patients more specifically. At the same time, these treatment settings come with specific challenges-e.g. due to coercion and control-and it could thus be that some therapist-related characteristics might have a different empathy on the therapy. This interview study sought to investigate service providers' and users' perspectives on therapist-related characteristics in the context of detention.; We conducted a qualitative interview study with 41 older incarcerated persons mandated to treatment, and 63 mental health professionals (MHP). The data analysis followed thematic analysis.; Patients and experts both emphasized the importance of treating patients with respect by taking a humanistic approach, that is, condemn the deeds but embrace the person and display genuine interest in supporting patients with any issue or concern that is of relevance to them. Furthermore, interviewees underscored that the coerciveness of the therapy context required to incorporate patients' wishes into treatment planning, recognize and respond to the patients' needs, and allow some choice within the given framework. Such inclusive attitude was deemed critical to engage and motivate patients to participate in treatment. In addition, it was emphasized that feedback and advice by the therapists need to be concrete, detailed and applied to each person's current situation. Lastly, patients questioned MHP's qualification when they did not progress in therapy.; Our findings indicate that some therapist-related activities and characteristics are of particular importance in court-mandated settings. These include genuine interest in the patient, a respectful and positive attitude, as well as the capacity to target sensitive issues in a directive but non-confrontational manner. Further research needs to identify specific expressions and behaviors that are linked to the aforementioned characteristics in the forensic context. Our study therefore contributes to much-needed empirical research on clinician and patient perspectives on therapist characteristics and activities in the treatment of court-mandated patients.
Faculties and Departments:08 Cross-disciplinary Subjects > Ethik > Institut für Bio- und Medizinethik > Bio- und Medizinethik (Elger)
03 Faculty of Medicine > Departement Public Health > Ethik in der Medizin > Bio- und Medizinethik (Elger)
UniBasel Contributors:Elger, Bernice Simone and Seaward, Helene and Wangmo, Tenzin and Vogel, Tobias and Graf, Marc
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Springer Nature
ISSN:2050-7283
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
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Last Modified:06 May 2022 16:21
Deposited On:06 May 2022 16:21

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