Empowerment in a Mental Health Institution

Objectives: To examine the association between empowerment and quality of life among adult forensic patients. Method: The Empowerment Scale and the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile were used to assess perception on personal empowerment and quality of life in 98 detained adult forensic patients in Prison Hospital of Tirana. Results: The proportion of adult forensic patients scoring above personal empowerment and the quality of life was significantly low in the detained group for the five factors of empowerment Hierarchical multiple regression models showed that self-efficiency-self-esteem, power-powerlessness, community activism, righteous anger, and optimism-control over the future were significantly low among detained adult forensic patients, indicating that detention contributed to increased symptom levels of psychiatric symptoms. Conclusions: For adult forensic patients, even brief detention is associated with a low perception on personal empowerment and a quality of life that interfere in rehabilitation plans. Governments should consider the many viable alternatives to incarceration of adult forensic patients, such as temporary placement in a supervised residential facility, to minimize the risks of psychological harm to this vulnerable population. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2014.v3n6p229