The Influence of Unsupervised Short Leave on Treatment Progress in Forensic Psychiatric Hospitals: A Pre-Post Study with Follow-up

Abstract In Germany, short leave is an integral part of treatment in forensic psychiatric hospitals. It is believed that the practice has many benefits for patients’ well-being and their treatment progress. However, the risk of an incident in the form of absconding or new offenses may be especially heightened during unsupervised short leave. This study analyzes the impact of unsupervised short leave on treatment progress using a pre-post design with follow-up and a sample of 298 forensic psychiatric patients. Furthermore, incidents on short leave were considered in the analysis. The results of the study suggest that unsupervised short leave can foster treatment progress. However, they also reveal that incidents during leave can disrupt the progress of treatment.