Patient profiles in high-security forensic psychiatry in Flanders

Recent research emphasizes the importance of personalized treatment in forensic psychiatry. However, the heterogeneity of forensic patients regarding psychopathology, offenses and risk and protective factors makes it difficult to provide personalized treatment. To facilitate the treatment indication process, previous research has developed patient profiles with corresponding treatment trajectories to compare individual patients with more homogeneous groups. The current study applied latent class analysis in 399 high-security patients in the two Forensic Psychiatric Centres in Flanders, based on their psychopathology, criminal history and risk and protective factors (Historical Clinical Future - Revised; HKT-R). Five patient profiles were found: the antisocial patient, the psychotic patient with diverse criminal behaviour, the patient with a personality disorder and multiple problems, the psychotic patient with physical violent crimes and the patient with a paraphilic disorder and sexual crimes. Similarities and differences from previous research and the importance to clinical practice and research are discussed.