Daily Occupations in Mentally Disordered Offenders in Sweden Exploring Occupational Performance and Social Participating

Sammanfattning: The major aim was to explore perceived daily occupations in mentally disordered offenders (MDO) through occupational performance (OP) and social participation (SP) with descriptive, comparative and longitudinal designs. The 74 consecutively included MDOs were visited onsite for data collection. The following assessments were used: Capability to Perform Daily Occupation, Self-efficacy Scale, Importance scale, Allen Cognitive Level Screen, Interview Schedule for Social Interaction, Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life, Psycho/social and Environmental Problems, Global Assessment of Functioning Scale, assessment of Support and Service for Persons with Certain Functional Impairments and Karolinska Scales of Personality. Background factors were assembled from the individual forensic psychiatric investigation. The results indicate that MDOs had contradictive problems in OP, SP and lack of disability awareness. The MDOs and professionals had different appraisals of the MDOs’ OP and SP. Schizophrenic MDOs need substantial support for community dwelling. MDOs with psychopathic personality traits had more problems during upbringing, however, no perceived problems in OP and SP compared to the remaining group. Low Socialization, high Anxiety and psychopathy personality traits partially influenced perceived OP and SP. After one year of forensic psychiatric care, 60 % were still hospitalized and 32 % were community dwelling. Changes after one year of care consisted of higher satisfaction of OP and SP, 1/36 subject valued daily occupations higher and 5/36 subjects reported better social interaction. Although, there are some methodological weaknesses in this thesis (e.g. high attrition rate), the unique results should be taken into consideration. It is concluded that MDOs’ appraisal of their own capability has to be taken seriously in treatment and care. Also long treatment periods, targeting daily occupations from start and providing substantial individual support are necessary for successful transition into community dwelling for MDOs. This thesis contributes to extended knowledge of the MDOs’ daily occupations.