No change of attitude toward forensic psychiatry: 5 years after the Medical Treatment and Supervision Act in Japan

Akihiro Shiina, Kyoji Okita, Mihisa Fujisaki, Yoshito Igarashi, Masaomi Iyo

Center for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
Department of Psychiatry, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba, Japan.
Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.

DOI: 10.4236/ojpsych.2013.32017                

Abstract

Objective: The forensic mental health system in Japan changed dramatically with the enforcement of the “Act on Medical Care and Treatment for the Persons Who Had Caused Serious Cases under the Condition of Insanity” or MTS Act, in 2005. The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes in attitude and behavior of general psychiatrists, towards forensic psychiatry. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey in 2010 on forensic psychiatry for Japanese psychiatrists, mirroring a previous study from 2007. Results: Comparing the results from both questionnaires, it is not evident that awareness of forensic mental health has improved among psychiatrists in the intervening three years. Conclusion: Further education about forensic mental health needs to be considered inJapan.

Keywords

Psychiatry; Law and Ethics; History of Psychiatry; Forensic Psychiatry; Education in Psychiatry; Epidemiology & Public Health

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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