De ropar efter hjälp, vi är vanmäktiga: att vårda patienter med självskadebeteende i
rättspsykiatrisk vård
Sammanfattning
Introduction: This study addresses self-injury among patients receiving care in forensic
psychiatry.
Background: Self-injury is common among patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder,
bipolar disorder with elements of
depression and schizophrenia. Self-injury affects both the patient as well as their surroundings.
Objective: To describe nurses' experiences of caring for patients with self-injurious behavior in
forensic psychiatric care.
Method: A qualitative approach was applied. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews
with eight nurses. The data were
thereafter analysed with an inductive and manifest content analysis.
Results: The results are presented according to two categories: ‘caring that evokes emotions’ and
‘caring that requires teamwork’.
Discussion: In the present study, we demonstrate a duplicitous problem in which carers are divided
over what is expected of them as
responsible and professional caregivers and their perceived lack of skills and their frustration.
Conclusion: Viewing self-injury as a complex expression of mental illness, we recommend that
further research is needed in this area - especially in the forensic psychiatric care context, where
long term health care relationships are involved.