Forensic psychiatry in Russia – the links with Britain evolve further

Harvey Gordon,Clive Meux

doi:10.1192/pb.27.7.271

Abstract

The perception of forensic psychiatry in Russia has been affected by the abuse of psychiatry for the detention of political dissidents during the later Soviet period (Smith & Oleszczuk, 1996). The Royal College of Psychiatrists played a key role in sanctioning the Soviet Society of Psychiatrists, but reintegration of Russian psychiatry into the international community of psychiatry now seems to be well underway.

Highlights

The perception of forensic psychiatry in Russia has been affected by the abuse of psychiatry for the detention of political dissidents during the later Soviet period (Smith & Oleszczuk, 1996)
The past decade has seen Russia become a member of the Council of Europe and a signatory to its convention concerning the prevention of torture and inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment (Gordon & Meux, 2000)
Specific British psychiatric links with Russia have been established in the spheres of substance misuse (Green et al, 2000; Fleming et al, 2001) and general psychiatry (Collins, 1995)

Summary

Introduction

The perception of forensic psychiatry in Russia has been affected by the abuse of psychiatry for the detention of political dissidents during the later Soviet period (Smith & Oleszczuk, 1996). During the 1990s, changes in mental health legislation and the production of a new ethical code for Russian psychiatrists set a new focus for psychiatric practice in Russia that is consistent with internationally-accepted perspectives (Polubinskaya & Bonnie, 1996).

Results

Conclusion