Exploring Cognitive Functioning among Forensic Mental Health Inpatients

Abstract

A large proportion of forensic mental health (FMH) inpatients experience cognitive impairments, which may impact the extent to which they benefit from interventions aimed at reducing their risk of recidivism. These impairments should be identified and responded to as quickly and accurately as possible. The current study explored when and how FMH inpatients’ cognition is assessed during their stay at a forensic hospital, with a cognitive profile being constructed of the sample. The medical files of inpatients who resided at the hospital in Melbourne (Australia) during January 2016 and December 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 99 medical files were identified. The type, timing and results of each cognitive assessment were collected. Frequency analysis revealed more than half of the sample received a cognitive assessment, with most of the cognitive assessments being conducted within the first year of an inpatient’s admission to hospital. Between 19% and 31% of inpatients with available cognitive data demonstrated a global cognitive impairment, depending on the cognitive measure being used. These results highlight the value of assessing FMH inpatients for cognitive impairments to respond to them appropriately to increase their chances of rehabilitation. Careful consideration should be given to the type of cognitive assessment tool used among this demographic.