“Hospital or Prison! Not Both” Perspectives and Experiences of Forensic Psychiatric Patients on Hospitals in Türkiye

KARAAĞAÇ H., Kaçar Adam D., Kara T.

Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2026
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/24732850.2025.2610832
  • Journal Name: Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Keywords: Forensic mental health, forensic psychiatric hospital, institutional care, patient experiences, service user perception
  • Kütahya Health Sciences University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study examined how service users in Türkiye experience hospitalization in a high-security forensic psychiatric setting. A focus group with seven male patients was analyzed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Three overarching themes emerged: perception of place, reflecting the hospital as both prison and hospital; rebuilding relationships, highlighting strengthened family ties but limited peer interactions; and contributions and challenges of the hospital, addressing the benefits of regular treatment alongside dissatisfaction with strict rules, insufficient activities, and limited information. The findings highlight how institutional environments shape patients’ experiences and emphasize the need for patient-centered, transparent, and rehabilitative forensic psychiatric care.