1st Edition
Global Perspectives in Forensic Psychiatry International Approaches to Practice, Policies, and the Law
Global Perspectives in Forensic Psychiatry: International Approaches to Practice, Policies, and the Law is an essential guide to understanding the international landscape of forensic mental health systems.
This book presents global perspectives in forensic psychiatry and research, highlighting how national contexts and legal frameworks shape mental health care systems across multiple continents. Contributors from over 25 countries describe national approaches to the assessment, treatment, and management of justice-involved individuals with mental disorders. In doing so, the contributors encourage policymakers to draw from both well-established and developing forensic psychiatric systems to inform international discourse, interpret research, and enhance the ongoing evolution of best practice approaches. Key topics include historical and cultural principles, training and quality assurance, and contemporary policies and procedures.
This volume is an essential resource for forensic mental health professionals, clinicians, and researchers. It will inform training, service delivery, and future research on justice-involved individuals with mental disorders.
The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.
Part I: North America
1. Canada
Mathieu Dufour and John Bradford
2. Canada: Legal aspects of forensic psychiatry
Hy Bloom and Richard Schneider
3. United States
Monika Pietrzak and Susan Hatters Friedman
Part II: South America
4. Argentina
María José Lescano and Jorge Oscar Folino
5. Brazil
Elias Abdalla-Filho and Lisieux E. de Borba Telles
6. Chile
Claudio Filippi
Part III: Europe
7. England and Wales
Megan Georgiou, Quazi Haque, Patrick Neville, Phil Huckle, and Piyal Sen
8. France
Sébastien Prat and Estébanine Moulia-Pelat
9. Germany
Birgit Völlm
10. Ireland
Henry G. Kennedy
11. Lithuania
Ilona Laurinaitytė, Vaiva Martinkienė, and Arūnas Germanavičius
12. Netherlands
Vivienne de Vogel and Michiel van der Wolf
13. Norway
Terje Tørrissen
14. Poland
Inga Markiewicz
15. Portugal
Márcia Mota, Maria João Peixoto, and Ricardo Barroso
16. Scotland
Lindsay Thomson and Caroline Kelly
17. Spain
Vicenç Tort-Herrando and Carles Martín-Fumadó
Part IV: Middle East
18. Israel
Assaf Shelef, Shmuel Hess, Nathan Kaspi, Michal Shayit and Naama Barkai
19. Kuwait
Abdulmohsen Al-Humoud
20. Oman
Badar Ali Nasser Al Habsi
21. Türkiye
Yasin Hasan Balcıoğlu and Fatih Öncü
Part V: Asia
22. China
Xiaoping Wang
23. India
Rakesh K. Chadda and Sanjiv Gulati
24. Japan
Akiko Kikuchi, Junko Koike, Miki Hirano, and Chiyo Fujii
25. Pakistan
Tariq Hassan
Part VI: Africa
26. South Africa
Nyameka Dyakalashe
27. Tanzania
Enock Eteregho Changarawe
28. Uganda
Irene Kizito Apio, Mark Mohan Kaggwa, and Julius Muron
Part VII: Oceania
29. Aotearoa New Zealand
Jacqueline Short and Jennifer Falce
Part VIII: Analysis
30. The future of research in forensic psychiatry
Harry G. Kennedy and Mary Davoren
Biography
Gary Chaimowitz is a professor at McMaster University and Head of Service for the Forensic Psychiatry Program at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Canada.
Mini Mamak is an associate professor at McMaster University and a senior psychologist in the Forensic Psychiatry Program at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Canada.
Heather Moulden is an associate professor at McMaster University. She is a psychologist in the Forensic Psychiatry Program at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, Canada.
Drew Kingston is the executive clinical director and director of research of the HOPE program. He is a senior scientist at the Royal Ottawa Hospital’s Institute of Mental Health Research, Ottawa, Canada, and an adjunct clinical professor at McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
“Forensic psychiatry thrives on connection across jurisdictions. This volume reflects that spirit by bringing together diverse perspectives and highlighting the structural, legal, and ethical complexities that shape forensic mental health systems worldwide. It will be a valuable resource for those working to build services that are responsive, equitable, and evidence-informed.”
Prof. Sandy Simpson, Research Chair in Forensic Psychiatry and Senior Scientist at CAMH, Canada
“Global Perspectives in Forensic Psychiatry offers a rare opportunity to reflect on how forensic psychiatry is shaped in different countries, through policy decisions, clinical demands, and shifting ideas of risk and responsibility. With a strong focus on systems and context, it will be useful to those working in research, service delivery and program development.”
Dr. Nathan J. Kolla, Professor of Forensic Psychiatry, Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia
“This book reflects the kind of international exchange we need more of in forensic psychiatry. By exploring how different jurisdictions address complex clinical and legal issues, it offers practical insight for those leading and reforming services worldwide.”
Dr. Carlos Hugo Isaac Serna, Secretary of the Forensic Psychiatry Section, World Psychiatric Association






