Principles for effective treatment of mentally disordered offenders

Several investigations have shown that persons with a mayor mental disorder are at increased risk for violence and crime. Crime originates from an interaction of genetic, pre-, peri-, and postnatal, toxic and psychosocial factors. Roots of knowledge for the effective treatment of mentally disordered offenders come from studies 1) about treatment of mental disorders, 2) forensic aftercare programmes and 3) offender rehabilitation. Evidence based treatment of mentally disordered offenders includes 1) diagnostic process and treatment planning, 2) treatment, 3) rehabilitation and 4) after care. The treatment with the aim risk- and harm reduction has special features such as consideration of all, not only psychiatric, crimogenic needs, importance of enhancing treatment capability and motivation, meaning of the therapeutic environment, privileges and restrictions and a specialized after-care treatment with the double mandate of help and control. A wide adoption of our empirical knowledge will lead to more effectiveness in the treatment of mentally ill offenders.