Caregivers’ experiences of providing care to female patients in Swedish forensic psychiatric care

The following themes emerged: <i>Providing care that is responsive to the conditions in forensic psychiatric care, Being an individual in a caring relationship, Providing support and strength, and Allowing the patient's needs to determine the course of the care</i>. The women were perceived as less physically strong than male patients but engaged in acts of violence against themselves and others. This could result in coercive measures that could also be experienced as uncomfortable for the caregivers, particularly when having to restrain the women.