A Better Understanding of What is the Treatment Engagement in Forensic Psychiatry: A Patient Perspective

A substantial proportion of patients found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (NCRMD) do not complete treatment. Treament engagement has been identified as a key element in completion, yet it is typically assessed by forensic professionnals, leaving patients own perspectives largely unexamined. This study explores how NCRMD patients understand their engagement in treatment from their own perspective. Sixteen patients participed in interviews, analyzed using a descriptive interpretative approach. Findings reveal that participants primarily defined engagement as a sense of obligation or compliance, while also identifying elements shaping engagement within a conceptual model, offering guidance for tailoing interventions.