Transformations of self and sexuality: Psychologically modified experiences in the context of forensic mental health

Article


Brown, Steven D, Reavey, Paula, Kanyeredzi, A. and Batty, Richard 2013. Transformations of self and sexuality: Psychologically modified experiences in the context of forensic mental health. Health: An Interdisciplinary Journal for the Social Study of Health, Illness and Medicine. 18 (3), pp. 240-260. https://doi.org/10.1177/1363459313497606
AuthorsBrown, Steven D, Reavey, Paula, Kanyeredzi, A. and Batty, Richard
Abstract

Forensic mental health inpatients in medium-secure settings have a limited capacity for sexual expression during their stay in hospital. This is due to a number of factors, including a lack of willingness on behalf of staff to engage with sexual issues, as a result of safety fears and ambiguity regarding the ability of the patient to consent. Furthermore, UK forensic medium-secure units do not provide conjugal suites for patients to have sexual relations, with their spouse or other patients. To date, there is no empirical research on how forensic psychiatric patients (or service users) manage their sexuality, while in hospital and when released into the community. Here, we present an analysis of semi-structured interviews with patients at a UK medium forensic unit, in order to explore these issues further. More specifically, we examine how the public exclusion of sexuality from these units results in sexuality being experienced as sectioned off or amputated, such that a new form of sexuality emerges, one that has been cultivated by the psychologically informed practices operating within the unit. This process, we argue, produces a psychologically modified experience, a new form of self-relation that continues to modify when released into the broader ecology of the community.

JournalHealth: An Interdisciplinary Journal for the Social Study of Health, Illness and Medicine
Journal citation18 (3), pp. 240-260
ISSN1363-4593
1461-7196
Year2013
PublisherSAGE Publications
Accepted author manuscript
License
CC BY
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/1363459313497606
Web address (URL)https://doi.org/10.1177/1363459313497606
Publication dates
Print28 Aug 2013
Publication process dates
Deposited07 Jul 2017
Copyright information© 2013 The authors.
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