Present status of forensic psychiatry in Iceland

• Published in: Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
• Main Authors: Möller, T., Thorsteinsson, G.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1977
• Subjects: Iceland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1977.tb00158.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1600-0447.1977.tb00158.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1977.tb00158.x

This paper gives a brief survey of forensic psychiatry in Iceland at the present time. Because of few inhabitants and limited financial resources there are no special forensic psychiatric institutions in the country, nor any forensic psychiatrists; this kind of work is mainly carried out by general psychiatrists, but also to a certain extent by general practitioners. Formalitites around compulsory admission and detention of mental patients, uncooperative and lacking insight, are briefly described. The psychiatric examination of probably mentally ill offenders is also accounted for. Such investigations are without doubt the main task of forensic psychiatry in Iceland to‐day. Finally the main faults of forensic psychiatric services in Iceland and the very limited educational facilities in this domain are referred to. Some future plans are also mentioned.